Missing human rights activist feared dead

The Standard

By Bridgette Bugalo and Nqaba Matshazi

6 May 2012

Missing human rights activist Paul Chizuze is feared dead and Bulawayo police have since handed the matter to the Criminal Investigations Department. Chizuze has not been seen for almost three months and the latest development adds a new twist to the mystery of his disappearance.

“The matter of missing activist Chizuze has been transferred to the CID because it was rendered a suspected murder,” police spokesman, Mandlenkosi Moyo said last week.

Despite alarm being raised that he may have been abducted, the family gave contrasting statements and this further deepened the mystery.

When news of the disappearance came to light, family members were reportedly squabbling and blaming each other for the activist’s no-show.  Investigations have revealed that when the activist went missing, close family members actually confided in others that the search for Chizuze might as well be halted as the activist would return when he wanted to.

“The family said this is not the first time he had gone missing and there were indications that he may have had a domestic dispute before he left,” a confidanté said.

A fellow activist seemed to corroborate this story, saying “but he has never been away for this long”.

The activist declined to comment further, saying it was difficult for him, as he had not been authorised by the family to speak on its behalf. Chizuze reportedly disappeared on February 8 and efforts to locate him have so far drawn a blank.

Speculation was that Chizuze may have stumbled on some sensitive information that someone did not want exposed. In a country where authorities are loathe of human rights activists, many fear for the worst for Chizuze.

But according to his sister, who spoke when the activist first went missing,  whatever had made him disappear had nothing to do with his work as an activist.

“His disappearance had nothing to do with his work,” Maxim Phiri said then. “He wasn’t a prominent person.”

The close family friend confirmed that family members were blaming each other for his disappearance. “The family is not united. They are pointing fingers and accusing each other for causing his disappearance. It is difficult to really know what is going on,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from the family on the latest developments proved fruitless.  When our news crew visited the house in Bellevue, Bulawayo, teenage children only peeped through the window and refused to answer any questions.

A lady, claiming to be Chizuze’s wife, later called our offices, saying they did not want any media attention, as this was a private family affair. A church service was also held in Bulawayo six weeks ago, while prayers have also been held at different churches across the city.

Coltart raised alarm

Education minister, David Coltart first raised the red flag on the missing Chizuze. He launched a media campaign to have the missing activist found.  At the time he disappeared, Chizuze was employed by the Solidarity Peace Trust. Over the past three decades, the activist is said to have worked with the Legal Resources Foundation, Amani Trust Matabeleland and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.

He has also been involved with ZimRights, Churches in Bulawayo, CivNet and Masakheni Trust.