Categories: Stories

Britain urges Zimbabwe to free Dzamara

Britain continues to urge Zimbabwean authorities to do everything they can to enable journalist-turned activist Itai Dzamara to recover his freedom and to respect their legal obligation to report on the progress of the investigation, Minister of State Baroness Anelay of St Johns told the House of Lords yesterday.

She had been asked by Lord Oates what representations the United Kingdom had made to the Zimbabwean government regarding the disappearance of Dzamara.

Dzamara disappeared in March and has not been heard of since.

Several organisations, including Amnesty International, have launched campaigns to try to find Dzamara, a former journalist who turned activist through an outfit called Occupy-Africa Unity Square, which among other things called on President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Baroness Anelay said the European Union was in contact with Dzamara’s family.

“The British Government has been following this case closely since Itai Dzamara’s abduction in March 2015. Together with EU Member States, we have repeatedly called on the Government of Zimbabwe to undertake a full investigation,” she said. 

“The EU issued a local statement on 11 September expressing deep concern about Itai Dzamara’s welfare. We continue to urge the Zimbabwean authorities to do everything they can to enable him to recover his freedom, and to respect their legal obligation to report on the progress of the investigation.” 

Q & A:

Lord Oates Liberal Democrat- To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Zimbabwe regarding the disappearance of Itai Dzamara.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns Minister of State- The British Government has been following this case closely since Itai Dzamara’s abduction in March 2015. Together with EU Member States, we have repeatedly called on the Government of Zimbabwe to undertake a full investigation. The EU issued a local statement on 11 September expressing deep concern about Itai Dzamara’s welfare. We continue to urge the Zimbabwean authorities to do everything they can to enable him to recover his freedom, and to respect their legal obligation to report on the progress of the investigation. The EU Delegation is in contact with Mr Dzamara’s family.
 

(208 VIEWS)

This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 4:00 pm

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Zimbabwe among the top countries with the widest gap between the rich and poor

Zimbabwe is among the top 30 countries in the world with the widest gap between…

November 14, 2024

Can the ZiG sustain its rally against the US dollar?

Zimbabwe’s battered currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, which was under attack until the central bank devalued…

November 10, 2024

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024

The Zimbabwe government and not saboteurs sabotaging ZiG

The Zimbabwe government’s insatiable demand for money to satisfy its own needs, which has exceeded…

October 20, 2024

The Zimbabwe Gold will regain its value if the government does this…

Economist Eddie Cross says the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) will regain its value if the government…

October 16, 2024

Is Harare the least democratic province in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, which is a metropolitan province, is the least democratic province in the…

October 11, 2024