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Zimbabwe Situation Crimes Against Humanity
National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) - Namibia
March 06, 2003

As a human rights monitoring organization in the SADC region, NSHR welcomes the mounting pressure being brought to bear by certain key members of the International Community on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his regime in Harare. The United States and certain members of the European Community are becoming increasingly critical of Mugabe over the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe.

Contrary to claims by South Africa and Nigeria, the human rights, humanitarian and human security situation in that country has deteriorated even further as President Mugabe and his closest associates continue to act with impunity.

Widespread and systematic human rights violations such as murder, imprisonment and other severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, persecution against political, racial, ethnic, cultural and religious entities, enforce disappearances and other inhumane acts such as famine, which are causing great suffering including serious injury to mental or physical health are occurring in Zimbabwe. Such acts are intentionally directed against Mugabe's opponents (i.e. the political Opposition, the judiciary and civil society actors, including the clergy). The principal perpetrators of such violations are members of police, intelligence, military, paramilitary and vigilante groups acting on the orders or with the full knowledge and tolerance of President Mugabe and his regime.

Hence, the present human rights situation in Zimbabwe deserves to be classified as crimes against humanity by the whole International Community. President Mugabe and his cronies must be hauled before a special international criminal tribunal or before national courts in accordance with the principle of universal criminal jurisdiction embodied in the 1984 United Nations Convention against Torture.

Last month, French President Jacques Chirac, addressing Mugabe and 51 other African leaders, warned that those who perpetrate human rights violations risk the punishment of the International Criminal Court. President Chirac noted that the days of impunity, when people were able to justify the use of force, are truly over.

NSHR calls upon other States, in particular the African States who subscribe to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Convention against Torture, including Namibia, South Africa and Nigeria as well as all other nations to isolate Robert Mugabe and his cohorts.

Note: For further comment, please call Phil ya Nangoloh or Dorkas Nangolo at Tel: +264 61 236 183 or +264 61 253 447 (office hours) or Mobiles: +264 81 275 1883 (Dorkas) or +264 811 299 886 (Phil)

For additional comment please contact:
Phil ya Nangoloh or Dorkas Nangolo
Tel: 061 236 183 or 061 253 447
Mobiles: +264 81 275 1883 (Dorkas) or +264 811 299 886 (Phil)
Website: http://www.nshr.org.na

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