Terrence Mawawa, Zaka| State security agents last week raided Zaka Primary School and abducted a staff member who is a senior member of the Progressive Teachers Union(PTUZ).
In a telling reminder of the 2008 horror in which teachers and opposition supporters were abducted ahead of the disputed Presidential election run-off, CIO agents from Zaka office arrived at the school last Thursday and took away Matthew Eston, who is a PTUZ provincial member.
Sources at the school told ZimEye.com Eston was abducted in broad day light by the state security agents who accused him of denigrating President Robert Mugabe.
It is understood the CIO agents were helped by the school head, Mr Masese, who is a known Zanu PF activist, to track Eston.
“Eston was abducted in broad daylight by officials from the President’s office. They accused him of undermining the authority of the President and they also accused him of refusing to contribute money towards Mugabe’s birthday bash. They also ordered him not to associate with the PTUZ,” a teacher at the school said.
Eston was released after a few days of being subjected to intimidation and torture.
A jittery Eston also said he was slapped with open hands and burnt with unknown substances as the state security agents interrogated him. “All I can is that it was a horrible experience,” said Eston.
Local pressure group Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development(COTRAD), said state security agents do not have any right to abduct. “The incident is a reminder of the violence which rocked the whole nation in 2008. The CIO agents have to desist from acting as Zanu PF activists. Instead they must execute their duties in a professional manner. We view the incident as sad and unfortunate. As COTRAD we do not condone violence,” said the organisation’s Advocacy Officer, Brighton Ramusi.