Zimbabwe Says Robert Mugabe’s Allies May Have Abducted And Tortured Opposition Activists
by Tim. E. NdoroRobert Mugabe’s Allies May Have Abducted Activists
The Zimbabwe government has sensationally claimed that the late former President Robert Mugabe’s allies may have been the ones behind the abduction, torture and sexually assault of three female opposition activists. According to the government, this is being done to tarnish the image of Mugabe’s successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The sensational claims were made by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana. Mangwana insists that the government is not behind the abductions but has failed to explain how the three were abducted from police custody.
Harare West legislator Joanna Mamombe and MDC Alliance party youth leaders Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were abducted and disappeared and tortured by as yet unidentified people after they were arrested following an unauthorised flash demonstration against hunger and abuse of Covid-19 resources.
However, when the trio’s lawyers raised alarm after they failed to locate them at 8 police stations around the capital, the police made a stunning about-turn. The police then released a contradictory statement claiming that the three were not in police custody without explaining what had happened to them.
Police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi later backtracked on his earlier statements and claimed that he had actually been misquoted by two separate dailies, including a state-owned paper, when he confirmed the arrest of the three opposition activists.
Speaking on New Zim TV’s Current Affairs programme, The Agenda Wednesday, Mangwana claimed that the abductions could be the work of Mugabe’s allies, the G40 Faction. Said Mangwana,
Mangwana then added that the government was investigating the matter.
The three women who are currently hospitalised at a private medical facility after they were abducted and tortured have since been arrested and charged with breaching lockdown restrictions and gathering with intent to cause public violence or breach of peace.
The three were granted bail after the court proceedings were held at the private medical facility.
At the time of publishing, no other arrests have been made on the enforced disappearance, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
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