Recurrent abductions dent govt’s image
THE alleged abduction and torture of three women opposition MDC Alliance activists last week by yet unidentified people, but strongly believed to be State actors, has proved once again that we are still far from embracing universal human rights that are the bedrock of democratic civilisations.
The horrific sexual abuse the trio claimed to have endured amid claims by Information secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana that government was unaware of what happened to them shortly after their arrest by police, proves that no one is safe. If a Member of Parliament, Joanah Mamombe, for example, can be treated in such a beastly and barbaric manner, what more an ordinary citizen?
Zimbabwe has had a long a history of abductions of opposition officials and the latest developments are part of the same script.
The ordeal that the women went through, including sexual abuse and being forced to drink own urine, shows the depths of human depravity to which those entrusted with State power can sink. We urge the government to thoroughly investigate this case and ensure that the culprits are brought to book, failure of which will only confirm that the State is in it as part of machinations to silence dissent.
The fact that the three abductees were picked up from Harare Central Police Station by other security details on the pretext that they wanted to take them to Warren Park where they had held an illegal demonstration, means that the police, who handed them over, were part of the plot. If not, they are duty-bound to given an account of what happened.
And the fact that the police ended up claiming it was carrying investigations on what happened and denied ever arresting the three despite its earlier confirmation in the State media,raises a stink.
It would have been laughable, if this was not such a grim matter, that the police would seek information from the public on what happened, when they are the ones who should give an account to the public of what happened, given that they are the ones who picked up the opposition activists.
This is quite unfortunate, particularly at a time government is begging for a place among the family of nations, which for long has shut its doors to Zimbabwe on account of its bloodstained human rights record.
It will be in the best interests of the State to bring to account whoever was responsible for the abduction and torture of these women. Otherwise, Zimbabwe will find it hard to shake off its pariah State label. No democratic State the world over would want to be associated with such.