UN Investigator Deported
Zimbabwe deports UN rights expert, Manfred Nowak.
A day after his arrival in Harare, Zimbabwe, UN rights expert, Manfred Nowak, was deported from the country. On arrival in South Africa, after his deportation, Nowak told reporters, "I have never been treated by any other government like this. It means that the mission has failed."
Nowak, who is an academician from Austria, was incidentally invited to Zimbabwe, by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, on an 8 day official visit, which was supposed to last from 28th Oct 2009 to 4th Nov 2009. He was told that his visit had been canceled when he reached South Africa, before proceeding to Zimbabwe.
In spite of this, Nowak, pursued and proceeded to fly to Zimbabwe, referencing the invitation he had been sent. But on arrival at the airport, he was told that he was not cleared to meet the Prime Minister, by the foreign ministry. This was followed by an overnight detention and the subsequent deportation.
The reason for the cancellation of his visit was given as the talks that are due to be held between mediators from the South African Development Community (SADC) and the leaders of the power sharing government of Zimbabwe. The meeting is being held in the hope of resolution of the standoff between the two parties who have formed the government in Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai's spokesman has said that the trip was cleared, but has not further clarified as to why Nowak was refused entry and then deported.
The Prime Minister Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and the Zanu-PF party which is led by Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, which have been longtime rivals share power and control different ministries but share the ministry of Home Affairs. The problems between the two have increased which led to a temporary withdrawal from the cabinet by the Prime Minister. The MDC has accused the Zanu-PF party of human rights violation, violence, harassment and unnecessary arrests.
The invitation extended to Nowak was the first time that Zimbabwe had shown any interest in allowing an expert from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), to come to the country.
Nowak, who is an academician from Austria, was incidentally invited to Zimbabwe, by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, on an 8 day official visit, which was supposed to last from 28th Oct 2009 to 4th Nov 2009. He was told that his visit had been canceled when he reached South Africa, before proceeding to Zimbabwe.
In spite of this, Nowak, pursued and proceeded to fly to Zimbabwe, referencing the invitation he had been sent. But on arrival at the airport, he was told that he was not cleared to meet the Prime Minister, by the foreign ministry. This was followed by an overnight detention and the subsequent deportation.
The reason for the cancellation of his visit was given as the talks that are due to be held between mediators from the South African Development Community (SADC) and the leaders of the power sharing government of Zimbabwe. The meeting is being held in the hope of resolution of the standoff between the two parties who have formed the government in Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai's spokesman has said that the trip was cleared, but has not further clarified as to why Nowak was refused entry and then deported.
The Prime Minister Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and the Zanu-PF party which is led by Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, which have been longtime rivals share power and control different ministries but share the ministry of Home Affairs. The problems between the two have increased which led to a temporary withdrawal from the cabinet by the Prime Minister. The MDC has accused the Zanu-PF party of human rights violation, violence, harassment and unnecessary arrests.
The invitation extended to Nowak was the first time that Zimbabwe had shown any interest in allowing an expert from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), to come to the country.
Like This Article?
Follow:
Post Comment