Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Scorned Over US$10,000 ‘Crocodile Tears’ Over Itai Dzamara

THE family of Itai Dzamara, the opposition and activists, say they will not readily welcome what the police have been producing as evidence of their investigations into the whereabouts of the pro-good governance activist.

The state, fingered for Dzamara’s March 9 abduction near his Harare home, has for a good four months, soaked the pressure from local groups and western embassies demanding his safe return.

But evidently feeling the heat, police have started publishing a diary of their investigations into the crime, even offering $10,000 for anyone with information on his whereabouts.

Police claim to have interviewed several of Dzamara’s close associates and Energy Mutodi, a Zanu PF activist who once wrote in a Facebook post Dzamara was safe in Botswana and was in the meanwhile, simply putting up a publicity stunt back home.

The cops say they have also gone on to obtain a record of the Occupy Africa Unity Square leader’s mobile phone calls which they say still went on even after he had been seized by men in civilian attire in a Glen View barbershop.

But leading those who have refused to buy this was the activist’s family itself, which says it cannot “be fooled”.

“ABDUCTED WE ARE NOT STUPID,” said Patson Dzamara, brother to the activist and family spokesperson on his Facebook page on Saturday.

“So, after 4 months our government eventually decides to play the concerned ‘saint’. My question is where were they for the past 4 months? What has changed now?

“It took them 4 months to realise the implications and severity of Itai Dzamara’s abduction. For 4 months they were trying to figure out how they should respond as government?

“Ladies and gentlemen, do not be fooled. Pay closer attention to details, because the devil is about to be shamed.”

Similarly, Grace Ablaze Ministries International Bishop Ancelimo Magaya, who convened last week’s prayer meeting for the safe return of the journalist turned anti-Mugabe activist, believes politics was impeding police efforts to locate him.

“Because of divisions among them, it may not be everybody who is aware of where Dzamara is but I am persuaded to think this could be a trick on the part of government to present this idea that ‘we are doing everything we can and have even put $10,000 forward but cannot make headway’.

“I really believe our police force is – without politics – very, very efficient. They would have got Itai Dzamara if they really wanted … this could be a stage-managed arrangement.”

Similarly, the MDC-T was more blunt saying this was a clear attempt by President Robert Mugabe’s regime to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes.

“We are not convinced,” the party said.

“Zanu PF is crying crocodile tears. More than four months after the abduction of Itai Dzamara, they are now trying to up the tempo; putting a $10,000 reward; why did they not do that immediately after Dzamara was abducted.

“The heat is on, there is so much domestic and international pressure on Mugabe and his regime right now but in the process they are shading crocodile tears.

“We still hold Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF regime responsible for the abduction of Itai Dzamara through their state security apparatus.”

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson Mfundo Mlilo said they were not convinced yet police were doing their job.

“What they are doing is appreciated but we feel a lot more could and could have been done.

“They are obviously reacting to the pressure from local and international pressure by giving the impression something is being done but these reports have not been as regular as we would have wanted.” source -newzimbabwe