Teacher’s union leader abducted and tortured in Zimbabwe

June 6, 2019
| Report Focus News

Harare- Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president, Obert Masaraure was allegedly abducted and tortured by suspected state security agents.

It is suspected that six masked man besieged his home and abducted him in front of his children and wife.

Pictures circulating on social media show Masaraure with whip marks on his back, hands and legs.

MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa said the abduction and torture of Masaraure had turned Zimbabwe into a pariah state.

“Civil society leader Obert Masaraure abducted, tortured and dumped the usual way in Zim.7 other civil society activists in jail on trumped up charges. Political situation deteriorates. Zim turned into a pariah state and banana republic” wrote Chamisa on social microblogging twitter

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) also condemned the abduction and torture.

“Abduction and torture of Obert Masaraure is strongly condemned. ZLHR is very disturbed that suspected state agents continue 2 commit international crime of torture” said ZLHR

 European Union’s head of mission to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen said the kidnapping and torture of Masaraure was “unjust and unacceptable”

The abduction and torture comes on the heels of a suspected clampdown of Civic Society Organisations on allegations of trying to overthrow President Mnangagwa’s government.

Masaraure has recently been vocal demanding that teachers be remunerated fairly as the economic crisis was taking a toll on them.