News / National
'ICC is bent on humiliating the smaller countries' says Mnangagwa
10 Oct 2013 at 12:03hrs | Views
African leaders should stand up against mistreatment and humiliation by the International Criminal Court, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
Mnangagwa said the selective application of the law when it comes to prosecuting African leaders as compared to their western counterparts is a major cause for concern.
The African Union is holding an extra-ordinary session of the assembly this weekend to debate the possible withdrawal from the war crimes court after it has become apparent that the ICC is a tool of western powers targeting Africans.
Mangangwa said it is no secret that Africa is being mistreated and humiliated by the ICC, adding that the glaring disparities in how Africans and westerners are treated should make leaders on the continent stand up and stamp their authority.
"I hope African leaders can come together and speak with one voice. The ICC is bent on humiliating the smaller countries; any little incident in Africa - they will drag the leaders to court," he said.
But even before the AU leaders met, some organisations and individuals including Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa have started lobbying for countries not to withdraw from the ICC.
Archbishop Tutu has an online petition titled 'Who Will Stop The Next Genocide?'.
The petition is addressed to South African president Jacob Zuma and his Nigerian counterpart Goodluck Jonathan, appealing to them to warn African leaders against leaving the international criminal court.
Archbishop Tutu has called on people to add their names to the petition and intends to deliver the petition to the African leaders if the names reach one million.
Mnangagwa said Britain's Tony Blair and George Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction and committed serious crimes in Iraq, were never summoned to the ICC.
Thirty four African countries are signatories to the Rome Statute that created the tribunal, but Zimbabwe is not a signatory.
Last week, the trail of Kenyan deputy president William Ruto commenced at the ICC and president Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to go for trial next month for alleged crimes against humanity.
Mnangagwa said the selective application of the law when it comes to prosecuting African leaders as compared to their western counterparts is a major cause for concern.
The African Union is holding an extra-ordinary session of the assembly this weekend to debate the possible withdrawal from the war crimes court after it has become apparent that the ICC is a tool of western powers targeting Africans.
Mangangwa said it is no secret that Africa is being mistreated and humiliated by the ICC, adding that the glaring disparities in how Africans and westerners are treated should make leaders on the continent stand up and stamp their authority.
"I hope African leaders can come together and speak with one voice. The ICC is bent on humiliating the smaller countries; any little incident in Africa - they will drag the leaders to court," he said.
But even before the AU leaders met, some organisations and individuals including Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa have started lobbying for countries not to withdraw from the ICC.
Archbishop Tutu has an online petition titled 'Who Will Stop The Next Genocide?'.
The petition is addressed to South African president Jacob Zuma and his Nigerian counterpart Goodluck Jonathan, appealing to them to warn African leaders against leaving the international criminal court.
Archbishop Tutu has called on people to add their names to the petition and intends to deliver the petition to the African leaders if the names reach one million.
Mnangagwa said Britain's Tony Blair and George Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction and committed serious crimes in Iraq, were never summoned to the ICC.
Thirty four African countries are signatories to the Rome Statute that created the tribunal, but Zimbabwe is not a signatory.
Last week, the trail of Kenyan deputy president William Ruto commenced at the ICC and president Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to go for trial next month for alleged crimes against humanity.
Source - zbc
