Editor’s Memo: Human rights chief must speak truth to power
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/
Friday, 11 May 2012 14:14
Dumisani Muleya
UNITED Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navanethem Pillay’s expected visit
to Zimbabwe should be used to bring the country’s checkered human rights
record under close scrutiny at a time when political tensions are
resurfacing ahead of decisive elections for President Robert Mugabe.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesman, Rupert Colville said last
Friday said Pillay, a former South African high court and International
Criminal Court judge and president of the International Tribunal for Rwanda,
would be in Harare in just over a week’s time to assess the country’s human
rights situation.
Colville said Pillay would on May 20 begin the first ever mission by a UN
Human Rights chief to Zimbabwe, at the invitation of the government. During
the five-day mission, Pillay will meet President Robert Mugabe, Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice and other
relevant authorities, as well as the Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament,
President of Senate and Thematic Committee of Human Rights.
Pillay will also meet with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and members
of civil society in the country. The High Commissioner is considering a
number of field visits within and outside Harare, including to the Marange
diamond fields. During these visits, she will also meet local communities
and civil society members in the area to listen to their experiences and
views.
Pillay’s visit would be very important, given Zimbabwe’s appalling human
rights record. The visit would come at a time when the country is going
through some national healing process, which has been ineffective,and also
preparing for elections.
Her trip would also come against the background of a landmark ruling in her
own country where the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday ruled that
authorities in South Africa can probe and prosecute not only high-level
crimes committed in neighbouring Zimbabwe, but anywhere else in the world.
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum filed
the case in Pretoria seeking to force prosecutors to open an investigation,
citing South Africa’s obligations to the International Criminal Court.
The two groups want South Africa to arrest and prosecute 17 Zimbabweans
accused of torture in 2007 if they enter the country for holiday, shopping
or medical treatment.
This means Pillay would arrive at the right time in Zimbabwe. So her work is
cut out for her. What is now needed is for her to have the courage of her
convictions and speak truth to power.
It can be done. Executive director of the UN Human Settlements Programme
Annan Tibaijuka did it on Murambatsvina in 2005. She spoke her mind.
A number of countries in Africa have celebrated 50th anniversaries of
Independence while the hopes and aspirations of many people remain
unfulfilled because their human rights were violated.
The devastation caused can be seen in the hardships, repression and violence
endured by people across the continent.
Human rights violations by security and law enforcement forces continue to
plague the region.
Pillay’s visit to Zimbabwe would bring the country under the spotlight,
given its long record of human rights abuses, ranging from the Gukurahundi,
Murambatsvina to the 2008 election killings. It would also draw attention to
the controversial Marange diamond fields where human rights abuses have
reportedly been committed despite government denials.
Mugabe is reportedly afraid of retiring partly because he is scared of being
held accountable for human rights violations committed by his regime.
According WikiLeaks disclosures, Mugabe’s fears and insecurity dramatically
increased after the arrest of former Liberation president Charles Taylor in
2006.
Taylor, whom Mugabe’s supporters are defending under the excuse that other
human rights violators mainly in the West have not been punished, was two
weeks ago convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his
involvement in the Sierra Leone civil war from 1991 to 2001 in which he
supplied rebels with arms in exchange for diamonds. He will be sentenced on
May 30.
Zimbabwe last October came under scrutiny at the United Nations Human Rights
Council’s periodic review in Geneva, Switzerland, before it was further
grilled in March. Pillay has a perfect opportunity to further drive the
message home.