Amnesty International Urges Zimbabwe to Bring Violence Perpetrators to Book

The United States-based Amnesty International, has urged Zimbabwe to investigate all cases of political violence, warning of the dangers of sweeping abuses under the carpet for the sake of a short-term solution to the country’s problems.
The group Thursday warned that there would be no lasting political solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe without addressing past human rights violations.

“While human rights violations must end immediately, investigations must be carried out and alleged perpetrators brought to justice,” the body said in a statement seen by APA on Thursday.

Amnesty International said it continued to receive reports of ongoing political violence and harassment, particularly in Zimbabwe’s countryside.

The human rights group noted that violence victims have had to seek medical treatment for injuries sustained in attacks since the signing of Monday’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Zimbabwe’s main political parties.

Negotiators from the ruling ZANU PF party and the two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are currently meeting in South Africa for talks to resolve Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis.

While attempts are being made by all Zimbabwean political parties - and the Southern African Development Community, African Union and United Nations - to address the political and economic crisis, Amnesty International said important questions of justice and impunity were not explicitly tackled in the MOU signed on Monday.

“Any future deal between the parties should not include amnesties, pardons or any other measures that would prevent the emergence of the truth, a final judicial determination of guilt or non-guilt, and full reparations to victims and their families,” amnesty said

It warned against sweeping the attacks that have killed as many as 150 and displaced tens of thousands over the last several months for the sake of finding a short-term political solution.

“This would store up problems for further down the road,” amnesty warned

Source African Press Agency

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