News / National
Mugabe under British probe over crimes against humanity
28 May 2012 at 14:36hrs | Views
British detectives are investigating Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his close associates for crimes against humanity, weekend reports have said.
British detectives are to grill a CIO operative who claims that he killed MDC supporters on behalf of President Robert Mugabe and other senior Zanu-PF officials, as part of their evidence-gathering work in an ultimate bid to put Zimbabwe's long ruling leader on trial for crimes against humanity.
The United Kingdom newspaper, The Sun, on Saturday reported that Scotland Yard's SO15 War Crimes Team would this week interview Phillip Machemedze in Bristol, in connection with his chilling claims that he murdered MDC supporters in cold blood before he fled to UK in 2000. The move comes soon after ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor (64), was convicted at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for multiple war crimes - including murder, rape and using child soldiers.
According to the Sun newspaper, the detectives believe "his information could be crucial in finally nailing (President) Mugabe."
The veteran Zimbabwe ruler has been accused of mass killings during his 32 year-old rule.
But he denies the charges, saying his opponents in the West want to tarnish his image after he seized land from white commercial farmers for redistribution to landless blacks.
Mr Machemedze was granted asylum in Britain after admitting killing opposition supporters by hacking off their limbs and pulling out their teeth with pliers.
UNHCR chief Navanethem Pillay called for investigations into large scale killings in independent Zimbabwe.
Ms Pillay, who was on a five-day fact finding mission, expressed concern over delays in the implementation of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
She suggested that the inclusive government breaks an impasse over the proposed Human Rights Bill by excluding past human rights violations.
"I stress that this does not mean that past human rights violations be swept under the carpet," Ms Pillay said. Zimbabwe is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that created the ICC.
British detectives are to grill a CIO operative who claims that he killed MDC supporters on behalf of President Robert Mugabe and other senior Zanu-PF officials, as part of their evidence-gathering work in an ultimate bid to put Zimbabwe's long ruling leader on trial for crimes against humanity.
The United Kingdom newspaper, The Sun, on Saturday reported that Scotland Yard's SO15 War Crimes Team would this week interview Phillip Machemedze in Bristol, in connection with his chilling claims that he murdered MDC supporters in cold blood before he fled to UK in 2000. The move comes soon after ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor (64), was convicted at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for multiple war crimes - including murder, rape and using child soldiers.
According to the Sun newspaper, the detectives believe "his information could be crucial in finally nailing (President) Mugabe."
The veteran Zimbabwe ruler has been accused of mass killings during his 32 year-old rule.
Mr Machemedze was granted asylum in Britain after admitting killing opposition supporters by hacking off their limbs and pulling out their teeth with pliers.
UNHCR chief Navanethem Pillay called for investigations into large scale killings in independent Zimbabwe.
Ms Pillay, who was on a five-day fact finding mission, expressed concern over delays in the implementation of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission.
She suggested that the inclusive government breaks an impasse over the proposed Human Rights Bill by excluding past human rights violations.
"I stress that this does not mean that past human rights violations be swept under the carpet," Ms Pillay said. Zimbabwe is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that created the ICC.
Source - thesun
