CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa, has condemned the abduction and torture of his members by unknown persons as acts of terrorism.
Chamisa said this after visiting former Mabvuku-Tafara legislator James Chidhakwa, who was allegedly abducted and tortured on Monday night before being dumped along Arcturus Road.
Chidhakwa is nursing multiple injuries including a cracked pelvis bone, hand and leg at a local hospital.
Chamisa said vigilante groups abducting and terrorising his supporters should be punished.
“Funding of such terrorism is unacceptable but what is more disturbing is that the people are never arrested. There is impunity,” Chamisa told journalists.
“This tells you the anarchy we have in the country, breakdown of rule of law, undermining of the security of citizens and vulnerability of citizens. This is a terrible indictment. These are templates of oppression in destroying alternative voices."
Co-ordinator for the National Transitional Justice Working Group, Fortune Kuhudzehwe, said abductions should never be used as a political tool to silence critics.
“We condemn abductions,” he said.
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“We cannot continue to use these inhumane tactics. We are calling on government to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture, ensure through investigations are done to stop these crimes against humanity.”
Writing on X, Amnesty International Zimbabwe also condemned the attack on Chidhakwa.
“We strongly condemn the abduction and brutal assault of Chidhakwa...The Zimbabwean authorities must ensure that cases of abductions and torture are treated as extremely serious crimes and ensure justice and accountability.”
In August, civic groups challenged government to criminalise enforced disappearances and ratify the United Nations International Conventions to protect citizens from being abducted.
They made the call as the country joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Government is yet to ratify and domesticate the International Convention Against Enforced Disappearances to ensure the prosecution of perpetrators. It was signed in 2007.
