Mengistu an eyesore on our landscape

Mengistu an eyesore on our landscape

MENGISTU: Holed-up in Zimbabwe

• Mengistu still holed up in Harare

• Ncube testifies at Tsvangirai trial

By Gabriel Shumba

THE Accountability Commission-Zimbabwe (AC) joins the Ethiopian Ambassador to Zimbabwe’s call for the handing over of Mengistu to the Ethiopian authorities. In calling for the immediate extradition of ousted Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam back to Ethiopia to stand trial for genocide and crimes against humanity, the Ambassador, Duna Mufti is not alone.

The Zimbabwean taxpayer who funds Mengistu’s royal existence in the country at a time when Zimbabwe is reeling under the worst economic episode of its history finds it easy to rally behind such calls. Even more passionately, human rights organisations like the AC are affronted that this dictator (who killed more than a hundred of his opponents every night during his reign) should have been granted asylum in Zimbabwe. Mengistu has been and remains an eyesore on our country. This is more so when millions of Zimbabweans have been forced to flee into exile owing to President Mugabe’s dictatorial propensities.

The AC finds it even bitterly ironic that a world-shunned tyrant like President Mugabe, presiding over a ruined country, should play magnanimous host to another dictator in this day and era. The AC strongly believes that Zimbabwe’s continued harbouring of Mengistu makes a mockery of the high-sounding doctrines of NEPAD and the African Renaissance.

Although the AC abhors the death penalty, it is of the opinion that the law should catch up with leaders who abuse their power while they are in office. Perpetrators of human rights abuses should be made answerable for their crimes so that Africa can cultivate a new culture of combating impunity and encourage leaders to rule in terms of a contract with their citizens.

In light of the above, it is regrettable that one beacon of hope on the Continent, South Africa, continues regularly to host notorious dictators like President Mugabe of Zimbabwe and recently, the ousted Haitian President, Bertrand Aristide.
Gabriel Shumba is the Legal Director of the Accountability Commission-Zimbabwe
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