Petition over Itai Dzamara’s missing and government failure

Itai Dzamara

Mr Robert Gabriel Mugabe

Munhumutapa Building

Samora Machel Ave

Harare

Cc

Speaker of Parliament

Mr Jacob Mudenda

Parliament Building

Nelson Mandela Ave

Harare

26 July , 2016

His Excellency,

RE: PETITION OVER ITAI DZAMARA’S MISSING AND GOVERNMENT FAILURE

My name is Patson Dzamara, the brother to Itai Dzamara. I am a Zimbabwean citizen aged 30, writing to you as the head of both the Government and State of the Republic of Zimbabwe on my personal behalf and that of my family and many other concerned, progressive citizens, voicing concern over Itai’s missing and the failure of your government to run the affairs of this country.

I have very strong suspicions regarding the abduction of my brother particularly the manner he was taken which is emblazoned with the fingerprints of state security agents especially military intelligence. Itai’s only crime was openly choosing to oppose you and your government within the provisions and confines of the Constitution of the Republic. He was abducted on the 9th of March, 2015 and to date your Government and state security agencies have failed to find him or solve his disappearance to the satisfaction of me, my family and other concerned Zimbabweans. It is a fact that your Government has a constitutional obligation to safeguard the security of each and every citizen, therefore the ultimate responsibility to account for him rests with you His Excellency. I call upon your Government to release Itai dead or alive.

The Constitution of the Republic in Section 49 states that every person has the right to personal liberty, which includes the right not to be deprived of their liberty arbitrarily or without just cause. Furthermore, the Constitution grants Itai the right to personal security and protects him from all forms of violence from public or private sources.

To date, you His Excellency, as the Head of State and your government at large have done virtually nothing to assist us as a family to at least unearth what happened to Itai so that we may hopefully find closure to this episode. Infact, your spokesperson Mr George Charamba indicated that the issue of our missing family member is too small to bother you, a sentiment I felt was irresponsible, insensitive and unfortunate.

I now turn to your Government’s record on running the affairs of the State which is unsatisfactory to the generality of Zimbabweans and for lack of better words can only be classified as utter failure.

Post the 2013 general elections and your assumption of office and swearing in of your Government, the country’s economic situation is continually sliding down. All economic indicators clearly show that your government has totally lost control over management of the economy.

High unemployment levels, of over 90%, collapse of industry and commerce, as well as massive de-capitalisation, have combined to virtually leave the economy comatose. Consequently, social services delivery has been severely affected across the economy.

His Excellency, Sir, this is a bold definition of failure. You and your Government have failed.

As a concerned brother and citizen, I therefore make the following demands:

DEMAND

1) That as the President of Zimbabwe sworn to protect every citizen you should immediately issue a statement over Itai Dzamara’s disappearance.

2)  That as the Head of State and Government you order state security agents to release Itai Dzamara immediately, dead or alive.

3) Immediately admit and declare that you and your Government have failed to run the country, and must step down.

4) Agree and pave way for a process of engagement involving all national stakeholders, towards establishment of an administration that takes over, to manage the country and prepare for fresh elections.

5) Agree to, and accept that your party Zanu PF ceases to be the ‘ruling party’ but becomes one of the national stakeholders, to be involved in the national engagement, and in equal capacity with the rest.

Conclusion

My position is backed by many concerned Zimbabweans, who, like me, await your response on these matters. We are tired and we can’t continue like this anymore.

In the event that you choose to ignore my demand and request, I shall engage all progressive Zimbabweans within a week and escalate protests in various ways against you in a civil, peaceful and resolute manner as provided for within the Constitution.

It defies logic and reason for my brother, to disappear without a trace in a nation that is not at war and allow that to go unnoticed and unquestioned. It is also unacceptable for us to allow this failure manifesting in different forms such as the continued deterioration of the economy to persist.

Lastly, Sir, l beg of you to appreciate my legitimate demands and treat them with the urgency they deserve.

Faithfully

Patson Dzamara