Harare | Saturday
ZIMBABWE has welcomed an African-led vote that blocked a European Union call for UN human rights investigations into the southern African country.
”Once again we have been able to kill and frustrate the machinations of imperialist forces,” Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told the state-run daily, The Herald.
On Friday, the UN Human Rights Commission voted by 26 votes to 24 not to take action on a draft resolution presented by European Union countries, which would have urged Harare to invite UN rights experts to visit the country.
”I am happy that so many countries have been able to see through the machinations of imperialist powers such as the EU led by Britain to re-colonise Zimbabwe,” he said.
”I am pleased once again that he (Jack Straw) has not succeeded,” said Chinamasa, referring to the foreign secretary of Britain, the former colonial power in Zimbabwe.
African nations on the UN’s top rights forum, along with some Asian and Middle Eastern states opposed the bid.
”Those who voted for us are indeed our friends. We hope those who voted against us will in future appreciate our position,” he said.
Three countries abstained, among them the west African state of Cameroon.
The draft had also expressed concern at ”violations of human rights by the government of Zimbabwe”.
Nigeria rejected the EU’s move as ”politically motivated”, and said it had failed to take into account the root causes of Zimbabwe’s human rights problems.
”There can be no debate on human rights without first focusing on the issue of land,” Nigeria’s delegate told the Commission.
Under President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe has embarked on a controversial programme of land reforms and property confiscations which have been spearheaded by veterans of the country’s liberation war.
Mugabe was returned to power last month in a presidential election tainted by widespread allegations of fraud and voter intimidation.
The draft EU resolution had specifically targeted Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front party and condemned killings, kidnappings, torture and attacks by ”state-sponsored militia”. – Sapa-AFP
22