HARARE – Eleven political and human rights activists abducted by state security agents during last year’s post election turmoil have asked for the return of property seized during and after their abduction.

Lawyers for the abductees have petitioned the head of litigation in the Attorney General’s office, Tawanda Zvekare, to facilitate the release of property confiscated during the state sanctioned enforced disappearances..

“Kindly make the above property available to our clients for collection and advise us as soon as possible when our clients can collect their property,” read part of the letter written to Zvekare.

Zvekare, who was not immediately available for comment on the matter, has not responded nor acknowledged receipt of the letter.

Property taken from the abductees’ homes during searches by state agents includes cars, computers, cameras and cash.

The 11 Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials and human rights activists are part of a group of 17 people abducted and held incommunicado in various secret locations between October and December last year.

Most of the abductees say they were tortured and forced into confessing involvement in alleged acts of terrorism and banditry. The state is charging them with sabotage, banditry, terrorism and plotting to unseat the previous government led by President Robert Mugabe.

Gandhi Mudzingwa, a former top aide to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and now the director of infrastructure development in the coalition government said he lost a truck, US$310, a cell phone handset and shoes.

Kisimusi Dhlamini, the MDC director of information who says he was forced into confessing involvement in alleged terrorist activities lost US$2 000, a Nokia N95 handset and two sim cards. Chinoto Zulu lost his Ford Bantam vehicle, US$2 010, a mobile handset and a sim card.

Freelance photo-journalist Andrison Manyere, abducted and charged with sabotage and banditry lost US$4 500, a laptop, three Nokia handsets, a digital camera, his passport and other items.

Fidelis Chiramba, who at 72 was the oldest of the abductees and whose torture sessions included being locked in a freezer lost three cameras, shoes, and a belt while Mapfumo Garutsa lost a mobile handset and a sim card.

Broderick Takawira, a human rights activist with the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) lost a mobile handset, two sim cards, car keys and US$295, while Audrey Zimbudzana lost a mobile handset.

Manuel Chinanzvavana and his wife Concilia who were abducted from their Banket home last October lost a desktop computer, printer, clothes, mobile handsets, several sim cards and children’s passports. Tawanda Bvumo lost US$135, a mobile handset and a sim card.

Lawyers for the abductees said they were also compiling the missing property for the other abductees who suffered the same fate as the eleven.

Several of the rights and political activists have also filed lawsuits with the High Court demanding US$1.2 million each in damages for abduction and torture

By Zimonline