Govt speaks on alleged abductions

Harare(New Ziana) – Security agencies are investigating abduction claims by three women from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), a senior government official said on Friday.

The three, MDC legislator for Harae West Joana Mamombe, and Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, are alleged to have been abducted on Wednesday this week in Harare and later found in Bindura.

This followed their participation in an illegal demonstration.

The demonstration was in defiance of the national Covid-19 lockdown.

In a statement, Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Nick Mangwana said investigations into the case had been launched to trace the movement of the women from the demonstration up to the point they were found.

“Government has noted with concern reports of the alleged abductions of three citizens namely, the legislator for Harare West Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova on 13 May 2020. So far we have established the following details.

“The three women were part of a group of MDC youths that defied the lockdown laws in the country and took part in an illegal demonstration in Warren Park, Harare,” he said.

He said police then sought to interview them on suspicion of violating lockdown laws, and holding an illegal demonstration.

“Whilst police were looking for them, social media chatter indicating that the three had disappeared was observed,” Mangwana said.

“On the night of the 14th, the police were informed that the three suspects had been located at Muchapondwa Business Centre in Bindura. Investigations are currently underway to establish what transpired to the three women from the time they left the demonstration up to the point when they were reportedly picked up at Muchapondwa Business Centre.”

Mangwana urged the three to assist police in their investigations.

“Government will uphold the law and constitutional safeguards contained therein, and if any law has been broken, the law will be enforced. We are calling on the three citizens to work with the law enforcement agents in order to bring the truth to light and we are appealing to anyone with information concerning this case to make a report with the police,” he said.

Cases of disappearances, or appearance thereof, of MDC activists meant either to deflect attention from negative goings-on in the party or paint a picture of rogue behaviour on the part of the authorities, are not new.

Last year, two activists – Peter Magombeyi and Samantha Kureya – feigned abductions during a doctors’ and nurses’ strike, claiming security agents were responsible.

After turning up several days later, the two refused to co-operate with police investigations. Magombeyi left the country shortly after, reportedly for the US.

The ‘abduction’ of the two also coincided with the United General Assembly meeting in New York, and was widely seen as trying to soil the country’s human rights image.

The MDC is currently engulfed in a bitter factional leadership fight, which last week led to the recall of some of its legislators from parliament.

The latest ‘abduction’ claims, observers pointed out, could be a ploy to divert public attention from the ongoing fights in the party.

New Ziana