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.
 

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