Blackman Ngoro

The ZANU(P.F.) political party, military and war veteran  leadership in Zimbabwe appears very  likely, now than ever to face prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity if remarks to the Pan African Parliament (PAP) which opened today in Johannesburg are anything to go by.

The First Vice President of the ICC, Judge Akua Kuenyehia from Ghana addressed the opening session and claimed, “ African countries demonstrated their support for the Court very early on,” she said, “Since the Court became operational, three African countries referred situations involving the alleged commission of serious crimes to the Office of the Prosecutor for investigation.

"As a result of these referrals, the Prosecutor, after satisfying himself that there are reasonable grounds to believe that crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court have been committed, opened investigations”.

The countries concerned are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and the Central African Republic.

The ICC is currently investigating cases of crimes against humanity relating to two more African countries. These include Kenya, where recent election clashes are said to have killed 1500 people. The other African country with a case being investigated is Cote d’Ivoire.

According to Judge Kuenyehia "There is a strong correlation between impunity and social instability in that serious crimes, if left unpunished, frequently sow the seeds of future conflict which, in turn, retards economic and social development"

However  there was increasing cooperation between the ICC and the PAP and that this showed that an increasing number of Africans were becoming intolerant of those who violate the human rights of their citizens said Kuenyehia.

Already respect for human rights has become the new catch-phrase with Africa parliamentarians judging from its use by several speakers who included Patrick Balopi from Botswana and representing the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Ecowas and Abdirahin H. Abdi, speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly.

Balopi spoke strongly for the respect of human rights in the Sadc region, against bad governance and the end result of“fragile states”. He also spoke against situations which gave rise to food crises.

The crimes against humanity taking place in Zimbabwe make it seem possible that the ICChad either received complaints or was already considering complaints from actors from Zimbabwe.

The hacking to death of opponents, the burning and displacement of opponents houses, the murders taking place of opponents and the victimization of children all point out to the fact that these crimes fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC.