One victim now battles mysterious illness
Activist Pride Mukono raised concern over unresolved cases of abductions.
“Abductions have affected the general human rights situation, particularly the fundamental freedoms of safety, life, assembly and expression,” Mukono said.
“This, therefore, places Zimbabwe as one of the hotspots in the region and this is very worrisome given that Zimbabwe is a signatory to several international conventions including the UN charter, which outlaws abduction and torture by the state.”
Human rights activists have on several occasions urged the government to adopt the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Torture (CAT) to show cause that it is serious about upholding universally adopted human rights .
CAT is a UN convention, which requires states to take legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent acts of torture or cruelty, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment within their territories.
The CAT was adopted by consensus in the general assembly of the UN in 1984 and came into operation on 26 June, 1987.
Zimbabwe and Tanzania are the only Southern African Development Community countries that have neither signed nor ratified it.
“We have also seen the likes of activists such as Obert Masaraure, who was also abducted and tortured.
“There were CCTVs, which showed the individuals who were responsible for that, but no investigation has been done to date and this is very worrisome,” Mukono said.
“It shows that the state is the one that is responsible for some of these abductions.”
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights lawyer Paida Saurombe said Section 49 of the constitution provides that every person has the right to personal liberty.
“The constitution is clear that a person cannot be abducted. If the state wants to engage a person for whatever reason, it must be done in terms of the law,” Saurombe said.
Another lawyer Dumisani Dube said there was need for strict adherence to constitutional rights, and for the legal system to address reported incidents of abductions.
Dube said Section 93 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (chapter 9:23) criminalises illegal detention, kidnapping and abduction of citizens.
“In terms of section 50(7) any person may approach the High Court for an order of "habeas corpus" requiring the whereabouts of detained persons in terms of section 57(7) of the constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 20),” he said.
Zanu PF director of information and publicity Farai Marapira said the ruling party was not involved in the abduction of government critics.
“Be that as it may, as Zanu PF we have the utmost trust in our police and respect and appreciate their professionalism,” Marapira said.
“It is our belief that to the best of their ability they chase all recorded cases down as is shown by their high apprehension record. I am sure all reported cases shall be resolved in due course.
“Anything else said is mere rhetoric and grandstanding by perennial mudslingers.”
Zimbabwe’s history of abductions predates the country’s independence from 1980 and most of the cases remain unresolved.