Debate in Zimbabwe over Ethiopia's Fascist Dictator's Extradition

[Somali_Friend]

Namrud Berhane

 

A court verdict here that former dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam was guilty of genocide has sparked debates in Zimbabwe regarding his extradition. Mengistu was tried in absentia.

 

Zimbabwe's main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), on Thursday said that Mengistu should be extradited so that he faces his conviction.

 

A spokesperson for the party is reported to have said that the average Zimbabwean considered the dictator as an "unwelcome guest."

 

Some allege that Mengistu helps Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe as a security advisor. These allegations however are not confirmed.

 

"The days in which dictators would consort in a boys' club and luxuriously look after themselves are over," said Nelson Chamisa in a statement. "Mr. Mengistu may be safe in Harare for now, but for how long?"

 

The government of Zimbabwe however dismissed such calls.

 

Acting information and publicity minister, Paul Mangwana told reporters his country stood firmly by its position not to extradite Mengistu.

 

"Mengistu applied for asylum and we granted him ... the position remains the same," Mangwana said.

 

"We have no control over the judiciary process in other countries, but we are also a sovereign state and as I am talking now, that position we made has not changed."

 

Following that statement a cleric in the country criticized the government for harboring "a dictator who killed millions of people."

 

Pius Ncube, archbishop of Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo, who is said to be an arch foe of the president, told a press conference that the government was misusing taxpayers' money

 

"Mengistu allowed one million people to die by refusing to let western humanitarian workers to come in and help fight starvation. He did it to save the government's face," Ncube said.

 

This week, the Federal High Court passed a verdict in a 12 year trial that 57 former Derg officials were guilty of genocide.

 

One defendant, Corporal Gashaw Gurmesa was acquitted.

 

Meanwhile, Mengistu has reportedly abandoned his Harare home and is now living near the Zambian border.

 

Mengistu has reportedly been living out of the capital since July.

 

An intelligence source is quoted by Newzimbabwe.com as saying: "Mengistu left Harare some time in July. He is living at a private residence in Kariba. The move is a security measure. Once in a while he visits Harare as he has acquired a stake in a local wholesale company which is based in the capital," said the source.