Own Correspondent|Both the government and police have adopted a very shocking denial stance against the abduction and brutal torture of MDC activists who were abducted on Wednesday only to be dumped in a remote area on Thursday night.

In a very disturbing statement, government said police will investigate the case to establish the truth on the abduction instead of investigating the abduction to establish the perpetrators.

Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe (27), Netsai Marova (25) and Cecilia Chimbiri (33) were found at Muchapondwa Business Centre, 30km from Bindura along the Harare-Domboshawa Road after disappearing in the hands of the police on Wednesday.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana made the statement on behalf of the government.

“Investigations are currently underway to establish what transpired to the three women from the time they left the demonstration up to the point when they were reportedly picked up at Muchapondwa Business Centre.

“Government will uphold the law and constitutional safeguards contained therein and if any law has been broken, the law will be enforced.

“We are calling on the three citizens to work with the law enforcement agents in order to bring the truth to light and we are appealing to anyone with information concerning this case to make a report with the police,” said Mr Mangwana.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who shortly after the disappearance issued a statement to the effect that the three ladies were in police custody, has come up with a changed stance indicating that police never arrested the ladies.

“Police are conducting investigations to establish what transpired on May 13, 2020 after the flash demonstration in Warren Park 1, Harare had been dispersed.

“It is only after full scale investigations that police will be in a position to pin point what actually happened between May 13 and May 15 2020. This includes the movement of demonstrators, their associates and subsequent location of the trio at Muchapondwa Business Centre,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

Government said information gathered shows the case emanated from a demonstration that was staged in Warren Park.

“The three were part of a group of MDC youths that defied the lockdown laws in the country and took part in an illegal demonstration in Warren Park. While police were looking for them, social media chatter indicating the three had disappeared was observed. Measures were put in place to locate them. On the night of the 14th, the police were informed that the three suspects had been located at Muchapondwa Business Centre in Bindura,” reads the statement.