Mob saves CCC activist from abduction

CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) activist Makomborero Haruziviishe on Monday narrowly survived abduction after six unidentified men pretending to be police officers pounced on him in Kuwadzana 2, Harare.

CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere yesterday told NewsDay that Haruziviishe was saved by a mob which intervened.

“He was not committing any crime. The unidentified men in plain clothes were driving in a Nissan Hardbody vehicle with no number plates. His left hand is now badly swollen after they tried to forcibly handcuff him. He was saved by members of the public,” she said.

Mahere’s deputy Gift “Ostallos” Siziba said Haruziviishe’s attempted abduction was one of the several cases of violence against opposition members.

“There is continuous intimidation and harassment of CCC party activists,” Siziba said.

A video circulating on social media showed obscure images of the attempt to abduct Haruziviishe as he was about to get into his car while coming from a butchery.

Narrating the ordeal, Haruziviishe said: “As I was getting into my car, suddenly six men grabbed me from nowhere saying I was under arrest. They were in plain clothes and did not reveal their identities. I asked them to explain the charges and to show me their identity documents, but they became violent and dragged me towards a white Nissan Hardbody vehicle.

“As I continued asking for their identity documents, they handcuffed me. Fortunately, members of the public noticed the scuffle and saved me.”

He said the abductors were definitely not police officers, adding that he did not report the matter to the police because he felt it would amount to wasting his time since laws of the country hardly protected those in the opposition.

Political analyst Effie Ncube said the continued harassment of opposition activists was a clear indication that the country was heading towards the wrong direction despite having been independent for 42 years.

“Human rights defenders, teachers, journalists, trade unionists, nurses, civil servants and political activists fear for their lives on a daily basis even if they are practising their democratic rights as enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.

“The matter needs to be investigated so that the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.”