HARARE – The Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) on Thursday called for an expedited independent probe into the abduction and torture of three MDC youth activists earlier this month.
The three, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party legislator for Harare West Joana Mamombe, and party members Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were removed from a police station in Harare on May 13 and tortured over two days after taking part in an anti-government protest. They were later dumped in Bindura.
National Constitutional Assembly leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku, who chairs POLAD’s governance and legislative agenda committee, said the leaders of smaller parties who have been dialoguing with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, were gravely concerned by the events.
“We came as POLAD to meet the President on a very crucial issue relating to the recent abductions. As POLAD, we feel very strongly that the abductions must be investigated. We want to get to the bottom of the matter,” Madhuku told journalists.
He added: “So, we were advising the President that as POLAD it is important for the nation to ensure that these things are properly investigated through an independent process so that the whole world knows the truth.
“It is important that we don’t continue to say there were abductions or no abductions; there must be clarity now – what exactly is happening? If the state is responsible, let it come out; if the individuals are to blame; let it come out but we have called the state to act upon it.”
Ministers and officials have been sent out to issue denials about possible state involvement in the abductions, either blaming a “third force” or accusing the three activists of faking their abduction to crank up political pressure on Mnangagwa’s regime.
Madhuku said Mnangagwa “indicated that they are already investigations taking place and that very soon they will be able to tell the world and the nation what is happening.”
The three women were on Wednesday charged for violating Covid-19 lockdown restrictions by taking part in the illegal demonstration.
Under the lockdown restrictions, people are barred from gathering where numbers exceed 50, and from travelling without official authorisation.
In addition to POLAD, the ruling Zanu PF party on Wednesday called for thorough investigations into the abduction of the trio, but expressed disappointment that the victims were reportedly refusing to co-operate with police.
The MDC has demanded an independent investigation, saying it has no confidence that authorities can conduct a transparent investigation given that the women were taken from a police station.
(Additional reporting New Ziana)
