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Police disperse MDC-T activists who staged an illegal demonstration to protest the alleged disappearance of Itai Dzamara outside Parliament building in Harare yesterday

Herald Reporters
Government will institute full investigations into the alleged disappearance of political activist Itai Dzamara who was reportedly abducted by unknown people at the weekend, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

This came as rowdy MDC-T activists assaulted and injured a police officer deployed to contain them from conducting an illegal demonstration at Parliament over the disappearance of Dzamara.

The alleged disappearance of Dzamara dominated Parliament’s question time yesterday as MDC-T legislators demanded to know what Government was doing about it.

In responding to one of the questions, VP Mnangagwa said Government condemned the alleged abduction that he described as “barbaric” and said state machinery would be put in motion to bring those responsible to book.

“We are exceedingly concerned about the matter that has been reported in the media. Whoever is responsible must be brought to book and I can assure you that the police will do everything to ensure that those responsible are brought to book,” said VP Mnangagwa, who is also Leader of the House.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Marble Chinomona, had to rule that the questions regarding the whereabouts of Dzamara had been adequately responded to.

This was after MDC-T MPs continued to take turns to ask on the same issue.

Earlier on, MDC-T activists assaulted a police officer during an illegal demonstration they conducted outside Parliament building.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba yesterday confirmed the incident and said investigations were still in progress.

“We would like to send a very clear and strong message that if anybody attacks police officers when they are conducting their duties, they will face the full wrath of the law.

“We will not tolerate any hooligans, conducting an illegal demonstration and attacking police officers. We have since intensified our investigations to identify the perpetrators,” she said.

By last night no arrests had been made.

A group of rogue MDC-T youths beat up police details outside Parliament building injuring, one policewoman seriously.

The rowdy youths were demonstrating against the alleged disappearance of Dzamara and after briefly gathering at the entrance of the Parliament building, they then attacked the police officers that were travelling in a pick up at the intersection of Sam Nujoma Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue.

Some of the youths dispossessed the police officers of their helmets and buttons before attacking the hapless police woman as she tried to flee the marauding mob.

She was only saved after more reinforcements arrived and was later treated of injuries at the Parliament clinic.