The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has approached the United Nations over the deteriorating democratic space in the country.
This comes after three members of the party, Joannah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were on Wednesday last week abducted by alleged state security forces who tortured them and sexually assaulted them.
Writing to the Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Nils Melzer in Geneva, the party’s secretary for international relations Gladys Hlatshwayo asked for an international probe team to visit Harare to investigate the matter. She said:
I am writing to your mandate to formally request support for an independent inquiry into the recent abduction, torture and sexual abuse of three female youth leaders of our party.
This particular abduction is not isolated as the MDC Alliance has recorded 49 abductions by State agents outside the latest case since August 2019. In January 2019, 17 women were sexually assaulted by members of the military.
These violations are happening with impunity as no investigations are carried out and perpetrators are not held to account.
The state is denying ever abducting the trio albeit the police initially announcing the arrest of the three.
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