Government withdraws UN torture expert invitation

The UNs Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, was invited by the government to conduct an official fact-finding mission, from 28 October to 4 November. But upon his arrival in Johannesburg, on transit to Harare on Wednesday, Nowak was told that his mission had been postponed. The Special Rapporteur was informed by the Zimbabwe government that they would be unable to receive him, as a result of the previously unanticipated consultative process currently taking place in Harare involving the Government of National Unity and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Nowak told a press conference in South Africa on Wednesday that while he welcomes the SADC initiative and all efforts to resolve the political crisis in the country, he fails to be convinced that the governments consultative process on Thursday with SADC is a valid reason to cancel his eight-day mission, at such a late stage.

Nowak explained during the press conference that he will be travelling to Harare on Thursday, regardless of the block on his invitation. He will now be travelling by invitation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, which clearly shows the deep divisions in the unity government that have already led to the MDCs disengagement with ZANU PF. Nowak himself commented on the evident divisions, telling the Associated Press news service that there must be some kind of misunderstanding between different Cabinet minister in the government.

I hope the government of Zimbabwe, and I mean the entire government of Zimbabwe will receive me in a positive manner, Nowak told the news conference.

Nowak had welcomed the invitation to investigate conditions in Zimbabwe earlier this month, as it was a sign that the government was willing to open dialogue on human rights and allow unfettered access to previously closely guarded detention centres. But since the invitation was extended there have been increasing incidents of violence, arrests and harassment against human rights defenders and MDC supporters. Nowak on Wednesday used these ongoing incidents to highlight the importance and urgency of his mission.