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Nicole Hondo Correspondent
Popular dancehall chanter, Enzo Ishall, has a line to one of his songs which goes, “vanhu vakangoziva kuti hausi muroyi vanodheerera” which loosely translates to “when people realise you are a nice person they take advantage.”

This line by Enzo aptly captures the attitude of Western countries towards President Mnangagwa, with the local European Union (EU) and United States of America representatives just falling short of suggesting décor to be used at State events.

In the past two years or so, Zimbabwe has witnessed unashamed and nauseating interference from the EU and US representatives.

The latter, Brian Nichols, has gone so far as to frequent dark alleys, brothels and opposition leaders’ homes in his quest to tinker with local politics.

That Nichols’ efforts came to naught is not the issue, but that he dared try. This writer would like to imagine what treatment the Zimbabwe Ambassador to Washington would get if found at the home of Trump’s political rival.

Yesterday, the EU exhibited this graceless trait once again, taking to micro blogging site, Twitter to order the Government to investigate the disappearance of activist Itai Dzamara in 2015.

The EU arrogantly tweeted “five years after his abduction, Itai Dzamara remains missing. We call on Government to shed light on his fate and serve justice and to tackle all human rights violations decisively, in line with Zimbabwe’s repeated commitment to human rights, freedoms and national healing.”

What is absurd and downright condescending about the EU statement is the assumption, contrary to evidence on the ground, that Government has done nothing to investigate Dzamara’s disappearance.

Zimbabwe like any sovereign nation under the sun has its laws and due processes that are followed when a crime is committed as is assumed in this case. Everything humanely possible within the confines of the law was and is still being done to solve the mystery of Dzamara’s disappearance.

In 2015, when the Dzamara case was opened, police submitted fortnightly reports in compliance with a High Court order that had been issued.

The first eight such reports revealed that thorough investigations were being conducted and no stone was being left unturned.

Reports filed at the High Court by the police showed that detectives met with human rights lawyers Charles Kwaramba, Gift Mutisi and others in trying to establish the whereabouts of Dzamara.

In March 2015, police filed a report informing the court that investigations had commenced with the Press and Public Relations Department issuing press statements to all media houses seeking any leads to the case and appealing to the public for assistance.

Another report on 22 April, 2015 showed that a team of investigators visited Glen Norah and Glen View 7 after receiving some information, but nothing tangible was found.

Police teams also visited the scene of the alleged kidnapping several times looking for leads. Dzamara’s co-activists in Occupy Africa Unity Square, including Dirk Frey were also interviewed, among several other persons of interest.

This was after police received information that Frey had clashed with Dzamara over a $200 donation received by the organisation.

Further, police in May 2015 went to the Registrar-General’s Office to verify the names posted on social media of alleged Dzamara kidnappers and discovered that one was non-existent while the other was in jail.

Over the years, police have continued with investigations into Dzamara’s case. On 26 March 2018, police launched an appeal to the public on any leads that might lead to the solving of the case.

The notice shared widely on social media, local papers, radio and television, read: “The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information on the whereabouts of Itai Peace Kadiki Dzamara, National Registration Number 48-084830-T-48 who left his house proceeding to Trust Deketeke Barber Shop at house number 10701 Glen View 7, Harare for a haircut.

“Whilst he was being shaved it is alleged that three unknown male black adults entered the barber shop and forcibly dragged him into a white Nissan Hardbody double cab vehicle, whose registration numbers were only captured as ABB 2, with the last three digits not visible.

“The registration plate was partly folded. In the vehicle were two other unknown black male adults. The accused persons drove away with Itai Peace Kadiki Dzamara and disappeared from the scene. Anyone with information, please contact CID Law and Order Harare, on (04) 251505/ 753411 or any nearest Police Station.”

The aforementioned is just the publicly revealed efforts by police to solve Itai Dzamara’s disappearance with more being done behind the scenes as with any crime that is committed in the country.

One therefore wonders on what basis the European Union presumes that nothing has been done to locate Dzamara and even insultingly goes on to insinuate that Government knows the whereabouts of same.

As a Zimbabwean armed with sovereignty, pride and freedom of speech, I hereby remind the EU and other foreign representatives in the country that while Zimbabwe is a gracious host, and President Mnangagwa has proved to be as soft as wool, that is not a passport for them to prefect us.

The EU has no diplomatic, legal, moral or hallucinatory right to direct the operations of Zimbabwe’s law enforcement agencies. Neither should these guests get so comfortable as to start to direct how the owner of the house should iron his sheets.

Diplomacy is a two-way street and Zimbabwe’s re-engagement and engagement efforts are not an invitation for interference from meddlesome countries who are failing to handle their own domestic problems back home.

President Mnangagwa is on record pledging his commitment to ensuring the upholding of the rule of law in Zimbabwe and protection of human rights and his Government has not deviated from that pledge with a number of Bills to that effect being speedily introduced and enacted into law.

That the EU would seek to appoint itself the Dzamara family spokespersons and Headmaster of Zimbabwe smacks of foreign interference with a more sinister agenda. It will not work.