Groundwork set for Mugabe prosecution in International Courts

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 December 2005

Another voice has been added to the existing chorus of calls for the prosecution of Robert Mugabe and his ruling elite in the International courts. On Wednesday, the United Nations humanitarian aid chief Jan Egeland said Zimbabwean officials should be prosecuted for crimes committed during the mass demolition of houses and businesses that took place earlier this year. Egeland is the second U.N. official to call for justice for the families who were displaced by the government’s Operation Murambatsvina. The demolitions were well documented and a case could be brought against Mugabe. Many believe the UN should bring the case to the International Criminal Court.

Special envoy for housing Anna Tibaijuka also called for the perpetrators to be made accountable after a tour of the devastated areas back in July. Several civic organisations, foreign governments, noted individuals and religious groups have made the same call. The U.K. Guardian journalist Andrew Meldrum told us that Egeland was visibly distressed by the results of the demolitions, and did not want to hide it. Egeland made the comments in South Africa after a four-day visit to Zimbabwe. Meldrum said the U.N. envoy could not accept Mugabe’s explanation that Murambatsvina was an urban renewal programme.

Egeland also said he had open disagreements with Mugabe, especially when it came to the government’s obstacles to international aid. Meldrum said this is most unusual because top officials normally speak in diplomatic terms. Egeland could have said he had full and frank discussions with Mugabe instead. Meldrum said it is important to let Mugabe hear the truth in the language his victims might have used, because he is very removed and does not communicate with them.