British government keeps Itai Dzamara’s disappearance burning

The British government frequently raises human rights issues with Zimbabwe, including he disappearance of Itai Dzamara, Minister of State Baroness Anelay of St Johns said yesterday.

She was responding to a question from Lord Oates in the House of Lords.

The British peer wanted to know when last the British government made representations to the government of Zimbabwe regarding the whereabouts of the political and human rights activist, Itai Dzamara.

Baroness Anelay said the disappearance of Itai Dzamara was raised in a statement by European Union members on 9 March to mark the one year anniversary of his disappearance.

Another was issued on 12 July to express concern at the reports of human rights abuses during and in the aftermath of protests in Harare.

The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs James Duddridge raised human rights when he met Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa on 5 July.

Department for International Development Permanent Secretary Mark Lowcock raised human rights with Chinamasa again on 8 October.

And the British Ambassador to Harare raised human rights with the Zimbabwean Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Christopher Mushohwe on 18 October.

Dzamara disappeared on 9 March 2015 and has not been heard of since.

Q & A                                                                                                                               

Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat)– To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last made representations to the government of Zimbabwe regarding the whereabouts of the political and human rights activist, Itai Dzamara, who was abducted on 9 March.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns Minister of State, Deputy Speaker (Lords)– The UK Government frequently raises human rights with the government of Zimbabwe including specific issues such as the disappearance of Itai Dzamara or the disproportionate response of the police to peaceful protesters. EU Member States released a statement on 9 March to mark the one year anniversary of Itai Dzamara's disappearance and another on 12 July to express concern at the reports of human rights abuses during and in the aftermath of protests. The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge) raised human rights when he met Zimbabwe Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa on 5 July; the Department for International Development Permanent Secretary Mark Lowcock raised human rights with Mr Chinamasa on 8 October; the British Ambassador to Harare raised human rights with the Zimbabwean Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting on 18 October.

See also: The untold story of Itai Dzamara

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