Germany urges ICC to prosecute Zim officials who masterminded Operation Murambatsvina

By Tererai Karimakwenda
20 July 2005

In a strongly worded statement signed by all parties in the German Parliament (The Bundestag) the German government has urged the International Criminal Court to make sure that those Zimbabwean officials who masterminded the demolition of homes and businesses during the cleanup operation are prosecuted.

Describing "Operation Murambatsvina" as "a new dimension of terrorism" the satement said Mugabe's demolition blitz against informal settlements has caused untold suffering among poor Zimbabweans. The German parliament also passed a motion calling upon their government to develop their own initiatives, as well as those organised by the EU and the G8 states, and this should be done in close co-ordination with Zimbabwean civil society.

Intensifying the pressure on African leaders they also urged countries in the African Union to become advocates for Zimbabwe's oppressed population, and urged the German government to make clear to the African Union that assistance for Africa is firmly linked to respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Just as all discussion on Zimbabwe has now centred on the loan bailout Mugabe is seeking from South Africa, The Bundestag also urged Gerhard Schroeder's administration to remind the South African government of its special responsibility vis-a-vis its neighbour Zimbabwe and call the government in Harare to stop the forced evictions.

Arnold Tsunga, Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, said the German statement was historic. He said the level of torture and degradation that Mugabe has subjected his own people to had shocked the world.