adminZvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
THE African-Carribean-Pacific Parliamentary Assembly has denounced the International Criminal Court over what its “penchant” for targeting African leaders and prosecute sitting heads of state and government. This is contained in a communiqué after the 34th Session of the ACP in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last month.
Zimbabwe’s delegation to the session was headed by Mberengwa East National Assembly representative Cde Makhosini Hlongwane (Zanu-PF), who is also co-president of the ACP-European Union African Political Affairs Committee.
The ICC has indicted Sudanese leader Mr Omar al-Bashir and Kenyan President Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, though the latter was brought before the court before he was elected president.
The ACP denounced the ICC for the manner in which it conducted itself.
“The ACP notes the African Union concern on the politicisation, selective justice and misuse of indictments against African leaders by ICC, regrets that the repeated requests of the AU to the ICC and United Nations Security Council regarding the cases of sitting Heads of State and Government have not resulted in favourable consideration, stresses that the handling of the ICC cases should contribute to the promotion and acceleration of national reconciliation and healing,” read part of the communique.
In an interview yesterday, Cde Hlongwane lauded the ACP for making the long overdue declaration.
“ACP states felt the need to make a clear declaration which challenges the continued entrenchment of Western hegemonic tendencies in areas of judicial sovereignty in African states wherein sitting Heads of State and Governments are subjected to humiliating harangue before an ICC,” said Cde Hlongwane.
The ICC has often been accused of disproportionately targeting Africans while ignoring massive abuses by Western powers in their international wars.
Online Reporter