THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT |ZIMBABWE I 2017 Enforced Disappearances and ordered the government to provide information on his fate or whereabouts, ZRP has remained in contempt Abductions of that order. In the interest of justice to the victims it is imperative for the government to bring to account all those responsible for such heinous acts. During the 15 November military coup, it is alleged that several people were abducted although no formal reports were received. In 2017, the Forum documented seven cases of abduction. The perpetrators were mainly members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and suspected agents from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). The whereabouts of Itai Dzamara who was subjected to enforced disappearance on 09 March 2015 remain unknown. Although the High Court Specific Cases 4 5 6 7 On 29 June 2017, Fanuel Keseke a University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student leader was abducted and disappeared by suspected State agents in Chitungwiza.This happened after he addressed a demonstration over fees hikes by medical students from the UZ college of Health Sciences. Kaseke was offered a lift by unidentified men from Unit B Chitungwiza to an unknown place where he was held incommunicado and severely tortured until his release on 04 July 2017. On the day of his release, Kaseke was given a bottle of some liquid to drink purported to be water. After drinking the so- called water, he passed out and only woke up at an open ground in Mbare, Harare. He eventually managed to walk to Mbare Police Station and made a report. The reference for his case at the police is RRB32004/17. 4 On 15 September 2017, men in a Ford twin cab truck in Mufakose abducted Gerald Tabani Tshaka a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Gerald was taken to Southerton police station where he was assaulted and tortured. He was released the following day and warned not to report the abduction and torture. 5 On 9 October 2017, Munyaradzi Ndawana the Mashonaland West Provincial Chairperson of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) was abducted from his workplace, Slaughter Primary School in Makonde. Mr. Ndawana was taken to Chinhoyi NSSA building where six persons alleged to be members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) interrogated and harassed him for five hours before releasing him. He was threatened with unspecified action if he remains a member of ARTUZ. 6 On 22 October 2017, ZANU-PF supporters in Chitungwiza assaulted Amos Kaliati an MDC-T activist and his wife. He was accused of campaigning for his party during the voter registration exercise. Amos was severely assaulted by ZANU-PF supporters, had his house destroyed. The youths then abducted him and took him to Betty Dokora’s house where he was assaulted until the ZRP was called in and arrested him. Kaliati was accused of stoning councilor Betty Dokora’s car. Amos was then charged with public violence. 7 The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Statement on the disappearance of Fanuel Kaseke, Available, on http://www.thezimbabwean.co/2017/08/zlhr-slams-student-abduction-torture/ Counselling Services Unit 2017, Political Violence Update, Unpublished report, September 2017 The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Monthly Political and Human Rights Violations Report, October 2017,Available on http://www.hrforumzim.org/publications/ The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Monthly Political and Human Rights Violations Report, October 2017,Available on http://www.hrforumzim.org/publications/, 19