BULAWAYO, Aug.5 (Southern Eye Live) -South African civic organisation Ayikhale Movement says it is preparing to take President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his government's alleged human rights violations.
The announcement was made during a solidarity march by Zimbabweans and South African activists outside the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria on Friday, where demonstrators called for constitutionalism and democratic reforms.
Ayikhale Movement national organiser Ronald Gudomunyayi said the organisation had already instructed its lawyers to file an application at the ICC.
"I have already briefed my lawyer. This has been done already. We are going to take the government of Mnangagwa to the International Criminal Court. This is a decision that we've already taken. Whatever happened today (Friday) in Zimbabwe is just going to strengthen our case in taking the government of Zimbabwe to the ICC," he said.
He accused regional leaders of shielding each other from accountability, saying Zimbabwe's leadership should face the same scrutiny as other African leaders accused of wrongdoing.
"It can't be that President (Cyril) Ramaphosa can be held accountable with Phala Phala, but Mnangagwa can't be held accountable. There's nothing special about Mnangagwa," he said.
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He said the movement would continue supporting Zimbabweans campaigning for democratic change.
"We are going to ensure that a democratic state is ushered into Zimbabwe with our solidarity. The revolution that is unfolding in Zimbabwe is going to go from Cape to Cairo, and this has to happen with the solidarity of South Africans and Zimbabweans in the diaspora," he said.
He urged other progressive organisations across Africa to support Zimbabweans' demands for respect for human rights and constitutional governance.
"South African people must stand up. Progressive forces in Africa must stand up and support the human rights that need to be ushered in Zimbabwe," he said.
He reiterated the movement's opposition to Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3 which extended Mnangagwa's tenure by two years.
"As the Ayikhale Movement, we hear the plight of the people of Zimbabwe. No to Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3. We are demanding the implementation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe," he said.
But March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma expressed concern over the low turnout of Zimbabweans at the solidarity demonstration, saying their absence suggested satisfaction with the political situation back home.
In a post on X following the protest, Ngobese-Zuma said: "Thank you to those of our members who showed up at the Zimbabwean embassy... I'm so sorry Bhekimpilo Mbedzi, we showed up for you and the people of Zimbabwe but your people didn't."
"If Zimbabweans as a collective didn't protest, it means they are happy with their government. Therefore, they must go back and enjoy their government," she said.
Ngobese-Zuma also reiterated her opposition to the continued stay of undocumented Zimbabweans in South Africa and called for an end to the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) programme.
"Illegal Zimbabweans must go. No documents must be given to Zimbabweans... ZEPs must go. South Africa is for South Africans," she said.
Her remarks come amid renewed debate over Zimbabwe's political situation and growing tensions in South Africa over immigration and the future of the ZEP system, which currently allows thousands of Zimbabweans to live and work legally in the country.
The comments sparked mixed reactions online, with some users supporting her position while others accused her of inciting anti-immigrant sentiments.