Mugabe faces Hague probe
Phillip Machemedze, the former Central Intelligence Organisation operative who was granted asylum in the United Kingdom, faces interrogation from International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors, who are keen to build a case against President Robert Mugabe, sources have revealed.
The development comes at a time when human rights organisations and pressure groups are campaigning for Machemedze’s deportation for violating human rights.
His lawyer, Masimba Mavaza of IEI Solicitors, a former prosecutor at the Harare Magistrates’ Court and lecturer at the Police Staff College, confirmed his client was under pressure although he said he would not testify against the President or any government official.
According to reports from the UK, Machemedze admitted smashing an MDC supporter’s jaw with pliers, and then pulling out his tooth.
He also reportedly took part in the torture and killing of several MDC activists.
His asylum request was initially turned down by the British Home Office which said he had “committed crimes against humanity”.
But Justice David Archer of the First Tier Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber allowed Machemedze and his wife’s appeals in a judgment delivered on May 4, 2011. The Home Office is not appealing.
An impeccable source said the case has revealed that Machemedze was granted asylum partly because the UK government wanted him to be questioned by ICC prosecutors, hence the decision by the Home Office not to appeal.
The source revealed that some people in Zimbabwe had been asked to carry out a background check on Machemedze to determine whether he was indeed a CIO operative.
Mavaza, however, said he had no knowledge of ICC prosecutors wanting to question his client, describing it as a rumour. “We would like to dismiss the rumours that our client is being treated as a golden egg because he is being prepared to be a witness against Zimbabwean government officials in The Hague or elsewhere. This rumour is just a rumour and nothing else,” he said. “There is no preparation of such nature here or anywhere to our knowledge. ”
Mavaza denied that his client killed a person and removed his tooth with pliers, but admitted he had information of this happening, and had witnessed people being tortured. He, however, said his client had respect for the CIO.
“My client is not against the CIO and he says it is a professional organisation whose duty is to protect the sovereignty of the country against enemies outside and inside the country. As to whom they choose to be the enemy is a matter of their judgment. The problem comes when the enemy is an enemy because they want change,” said Mavaza.
He revealed that there had been a lot of media interest after his client got asylum, with some journalists camping outside his home.
“The stories have created unnecessary problems for our client. People are calling for his deportation, including the MDC in the UK. A group calling itself New Rhodesia has written to the (UK) Prime Minister (David Cameron) asking him to deport our client,” he said.
His lawyer, Masimba Mavaza of IEI Solicitors, a former prosecutor at the Harare Magistrates’ Court and lecturer at the Police Staff College, confirmed his client was under pressure although he said he would not testify against the President or any government official.
According to reports from the UK, Machemedze admitted smashing an MDC supporter’s jaw with pliers, and then pulling out his tooth.
He also reportedly took part in the torture and killing of several MDC activists.
His asylum request was initially turned down by the British Home Office which said he had “committed crimes against humanity”.
But Justice David Archer of the First Tier Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber allowed Machemedze and his wife’s appeals in a judgment delivered on May 4, 2011. The Home Office is not appealing.
An impeccable source said the case has revealed that Machemedze was granted asylum partly because the UK government wanted him to be questioned by ICC prosecutors, hence the decision by the Home Office not to appeal.
The source revealed that some people in Zimbabwe had been asked to carry out a background check on Machemedze to determine whether he was indeed a CIO operative.
Mavaza, however, said he had no knowledge of ICC prosecutors wanting to question his client, describing it as a rumour. “We would like to dismiss the rumours that our client is being treated as a golden egg because he is being prepared to be a witness against Zimbabwean government officials in The Hague or elsewhere. This rumour is just a rumour and nothing else,” he said. “There is no preparation of such nature here or anywhere to our knowledge. ”
Mavaza denied that his client killed a person and removed his tooth with pliers, but admitted he had information of this happening, and had witnessed people being tortured. He, however, said his client had respect for the CIO.
“My client is not against the CIO and he says it is a professional organisation whose duty is to protect the sovereignty of the country against enemies outside and inside the country. As to whom they choose to be the enemy is a matter of their judgment. The problem comes when the enemy is an enemy because they want change,” said Mavaza.
He revealed that there had been a lot of media interest after his client got asylum, with some journalists camping outside his home.
“The stories have created unnecessary problems for our client. People are calling for his deportation, including the MDC in the UK. A group calling itself New Rhodesia has written to the (UK) Prime Minister (David Cameron) asking him to deport our client,” he said.
