Pretoria High Court Tuesday. Left is Lovemore Chikandiwa MDC Vice Chair SA, Gabriel Shumba torture survivor and ZEF Chair, Brendon Nyoni Torture Survivor and Sox Chikohwero, Torture Survivor all exiled to SA.

By Alex Bell
28 March 2012

A number of Zimbabwean torture victims joined scores of exiled nationals in South Africa this week, calling for justice for the hardships they faced back home.

The group has been protesting outside the Pretoria High Court where a landmark legal challenge is being heard. The case is urging South African authorities to investigate and prosecute high level Zimbabwean officials accused of crimes against humanity, as part of their international legal obligations.

The case was filed by the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC) and the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum and is based on a decision by South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the police not to investigate the torture of MDC members in 2007.

These details were contained in a dossier submitted by SALC and the Exiles Forum to the NPA and the police in 2008. This week’s court challenge will urge this investigation to happen, because South Africa is a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Yes to justice and No to torture

Torture survivors and other exiled Zimbabweans meanwhile have for the past three days gathered to show their support for the case, wearing t-shirts with the slogan: ‘Yes to justice and No to torture’.