A Decade of Pain: Itai Dzamara’s Wife Still Seeks Answers 10 Years After His Disappearance

Harare – A decade after the disappearance of human rights activist and journalist Itai Dzamara, his wife, Sheffra, remains desperate for answers.

Dzamara vanished on March 9, 2015, after openly criticizing the Zimbabwean government, then led by President Robert Mugabe, over the country’s economic decline. Despite extensive calls for justice, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Speaking to Amnesty International Zimbabwe, Sheffra expressed her anguish over the years of uncertainty.

“I will not stop asking until I know the fate and whereabouts of my husband,” she said.

She continues to hold onto hope that Dzamara might one day return but also seeks closure if that is not possible.

“Life has not been the same since Itai was taken. The last 10 years have been incredibly difficult. I see him in our children every day, and it breaks my heart that they have grown up without him.”

Sheffra also accused authorities of failing to investigate her husband’s disappearance, stating that the police ignored a High Court order to act on the case.

“The police never followed up or provided any updates. They showed no interest in finding Itai. Even when the High Court ordered them to act, they did nothing.”

She further criticized the Zimbabwean government for disregarding repeated calls for accountability from both local and international groups.

“For 10 years, our family has fought for answers, but the government has turned a blind eye to our pleas and those of friends, activists, civil society, and the international community.”

Dzamara’s case remains a symbol of Zimbabwe’s unresolved human rights concerns, with calls for justice continuing both locally and globally.

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