The party fears they could have been killed, but the authorities continue to profess ignorance about the whereabouts of the seven abductees, snatched from their homes by gun-toting hit-squads.
The MDC says it wants to know what happened to its activists. Failure to provide a satisfactory answer constituted a "major threat" to the power-sharing agreement with Zanu (PF).
Three High Court rulings ordering their urgent release or the immediate appearance in court have been defied as authorities insist the seven are not in custody.
The MDC, through its lawyers, argues that the continued illegal detention of the seven MDC activists is a violation of the power-sharing agreement signed in Harare on September 15, 2008.
The party said it would also call for the intervention of SADC and the AU, the guarantors of that agreement, to assist in securing the release of the seven, who are now feared dead. The matter is set to be tabled at the Luanda SADC summit next week.
Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC spokesman, said having worked with intensity in the last months to get information on the seven's whereabouts, most party officials were now seriously concerned about the seven MDC activists' safety.
"We are dealing with a rogue regime that can do anything, so obviously we are all worried about their well-being," he said.
Detention of citizens for 27 days without a court appearance is illegal, with or without a power-sharing agreement.
Under the Security of Persons and Prevention of Violence section in the global political agreement, all parties agreed to work together to ensure the security of persons and property; to guarantee the safety of any displaced persons, their safe return home and their full enjoyment of the full protection of the law.
All parties to the agreement further agreed that it was the duty of all political parties and individuals to respect and uphold the Constitution and other laws of the land and to adhere to the principles of the rule of law.
"The State's failure to produce these persons in court or to release them is a patent violation of these important undertakings and the MDC and its lawyers have no option but to approach the guarantors of the GPA,” said Mwonzora.
While Attorney General Johannes Tomana was not immediately available for comment, he is quoted last week giving a description of political detainees that perfectly fits the status of the missing seven activists.
"If one is a political detainee, they do not go to court and go through all the necessary court procedures. They are confined and kept away from society," Tomana said.
Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa said: "I don’t know where they are."
Missing: Abducted in 2008
Gwenzi Kahiya – 29 October – Zvimba
Ephraim Mabeka – 10 December – Gokwe,
Lovemore Machokoto – 10 December – Gokwe
Charles Muza – 10 December – Gokwe
Edmore Vangirayi -10 December – Gokwe
Graham Matehwa – 17 December – Makoni South
Peter Munyanyi – 13 December – Gutu South
Post published in: News