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The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum is a Southern African non-political, non-profit and non-partisan organisation with an eye on the future of Zimbabwe. It was founded in 2003 in South Africa on the premise that political change that will usher in a democratic dispensation where human dignity and civil liberties are sacrosanct in Zimbabwe is inevitable.
ZEF is however concerned that little or nothing is being done to prepare for this change. In this regard ZEF is engaged in research, documentation, advocy, lobbying and litigation around issues of human rights in Zimbabwe
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Zim group threatens SA crimes unit with international legal action |
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By Alex Bell
14 May 2012
A Zimbabwean human rights group has threatened South Africa’s chief crime
fighting unit with international legal action, over on ongoing probe into
the illegal renditions of Zimbabwean citizens from South Africa.
Several senior officials in the Hawks criminal unit and the South African
police were last year accused of conducting the renditions, in partnership
with Zimbabwean police. This has reportedly led to a number of Zimbabwean
‘suspects’ being arrested in South Africa and then sent across the border
illegally, and killed.
These allegations were made by South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, which
reported that South Africa’s Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, is sitting on
explosive reports listing at least three deaths of Zimbabwean nationals. The
deaths were allegedly as a result of a ‘renditions’ operation led by police
and Hawks officers.
A Hawks source has recently been quoted by South African media as saying
that the practice is still ongoing with at least eight of the unit’s members
being accused.
“They are above the law. Completely untouchable. For their work several have
been promoted to senior ranks. They have links right to the top, including
politicians and senior officers,” the source was quoted as telling the Times
newspaper.
“Several, who are from the Hawks Tactical Operational Management Services,
are known to be linked to the murders of at least six Zimbabweans abducted
from across Gauteng, and others have been linked to the murders of South
Africans, including fellow police officers,” the source said.
Mthethwa has now said a preliminary investigation into the allegations is
almost completed. But according to the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) this is
the first time any form of a probe has been mentioned. ZEF Director Gabriel
Shumba said he fears the allegations will be covered up.
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South Africa sued over Zimbabwe permit renewals |
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http://www.newzimbabwe.com
13/05/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
A UNION for migrant workers is taking the South African government to court
to force ministers to reveal what they intend to do with 300,000 Zimbabweans
granted work permits when they expire in 2015.
The Migrant Workers Association of South Africa (MWASA) says officials from
the Department of Home Affairs have privately stated that the permits will
not be renewed, but there has been no public statement by the government.
MWASA has engaged law firm MGM Law Assist to force the government into a
clarification.
In September 2010, South Africa began a process of issuing Zimbabweans with
relevant South African permits for business, study and work under a special
dispensation known as the Zimbabwe Documentation Programme.
But Austin Moyo, the secretary general of MWASA says Zimbabweans who
benefitted from the programme are anxious to know what will happen when the
permits expire.
Home Affairs Director General Mkuseli Apleni said Friday that only those
meeting legal requirements for work, study and business permits renewal will
be granted extensions.
MGM Law Assist Director Godfrey Machimane says the Home Affairs’ position is
the reason why the permit holders are launching a court action.
“If the permit holders are now required to meet legal requirements for
renewing permits that were given under special circumstances, it simply
means the majority will not qualify,” he said.
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SA court ruling blow to Mugabe |
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http://www.timeslive.co.za
MARK SCOFIELD | 13 May, 2012 00:13
Zanu-PF was dealt a blow this week when a high court ruled South Africa was
obliged to investigate the instigators of human rights violations in
Zimbabwe.
The North Gauteng High Court ruling - which deals with the torture of 15
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists netted in a police raid at
the MDC headquarters in Harvest House, Harare, in 2007 - has cast the
spotlight on wider human rights violations that have taken place in
Zimbabwe.
Allan Wallis, a lawyer at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC),
which brought the case before the court, said: "This case relates to the
raid at the MDC's Harvest House and we put up the case by having doctors
check the victims and corroborate their claims of torture.
"It highlights the systematic use of violence by the state, and is
indicative of widespread human rights violations that have taken place with
impunity in Zimbabwe".
In the past decade, Zanu-PF and military officers have been fingered by
human rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watchfor the bulk
of human rights violations.
The ruling by Judge Hans Fabricius paves the way for officials linked to the
abuses to be arrested and tried upon entry into South Africa.
"The NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] and SAPS [SA Police Service] had
acted unconstitutionally and unlawfully in not taking forward the original
investigation," Fabricius said. However, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary
Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa came out guns blazing . He shot down the
ruling, describ ing it as "irrelevant".
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Zanu PF & SA officials panic over court ruling |
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HEADLINES, NEWS — BY ADMIN ON MAY 10, 2012 6:22 PM
By Tonderai Kwenda
HARARE – South African and Zimbabwean authorities are in panic over how to deal with a ruling by the North Gauteng court ordering the arrest and prosecution of Zimbabwean officials involved in human rights abuses and torture.
Johannes Tomana
The ruling ordered prosecutors in Pretoria to investigate Zimbabwean officials accused of torturing opposition supporters five years ago.
Zimbabwean officials jumped to criticise the ruling as “political” while their South African counterparts have been put in a fix given the need for Pretoria to maintain warm relations with Harare.
The ruling means that South African authorities can probe and prosecute crimes committed in neighbouring Zimbabwe under international law.
Top Zanu PF officials implicated in the abuses but are untouchables in Harare, now face the real risk of jail because they frequent South Africa for medical care and shopping. They also regularly visit South African universities to see their children studying there.
These officials could end up at the International Criminal Court (ICC). In his ruling, South African judge Hans Fabricius said reasonable grounds for the prosecution of Zimbabwean officials exist.
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