16th May 2020
As Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe we are greatly disturbed by the abduction, on Wednesday 13th May 2020 in Harare, torture, and sexual violence against members of the MDC Alliance, Joana Mamombe (Member of Parliament), Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
These grievous and unpardonable acts are a gross violation against their rights and freedoms as granted to them under the Constitution of Zimbabwe and were meant to humiliate, traumatise, and silence them into submission. We strongly condemn this violence that was perpetrated against them and urge all human rights governing bodies to lodge an investigation into finding out who the perpetrators are.
It is unacceptable that the Zimbabwe Republic Police cannot account for how these women got abducted given that they were under their care as confirmed by Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi when he acknowledged their arrest.
This is about the 50th recorded case of abductions and torture of members of the opposition and members of civil society groups by suspected Zimbabwean state agents in a space of about one and half years i.e. since January 2019 and yet not a single culprit has been arrested despite some of the perpetrators being known persons.
Instead, the state has typically always denied knowledge of these happenings. It is unconscionable to allow this situation to continue happening whilst citizens are continually brutalised by agents of the state. We therefore urge international bodies to intervene and hold the Government of Zimbabwe to account.
The end
By Information & Publicity Department
