CASE No - Inter-Parliamentary Union
CASE No - Inter-Parliamentary Union
CASE No - Inter-Parliamentary Union
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CL/183/SR.1<br />
ANNEX XXXIV<br />
ZIMBABWE<br />
<strong>CASE</strong> <strong>No</strong>. ZBW/19 - ROY BENNETT<br />
<strong>CASE</strong> <strong>No</strong>. ZBW/27 - PAUL MADZORE<br />
<strong>CASE</strong> <strong>No</strong>. ZBW/20 - JOB SIKHALA <strong>CASE</strong> <strong>No</strong>. ZBW/37 - TUMBARE MUTASA 28<br />
<strong>CASE</strong> <strong>No</strong>. ZBW/21 - TICHAONA MUNYANYI <strong>CASE</strong> <strong>No</strong>. ZBW/38 - GILBERT SHOKO 8<br />
<strong>CASE</strong> <strong>No</strong>. ZBW/25 - TENDAI BITI<br />
<strong>CASE</strong> <strong>No</strong>. ZBW/44 - NELSON CHAMISA<br />
Resolution adopted unanimously by the IPU Governing Council at its 183 rd session<br />
(Geneva, 15 October 2008)<br />
The Governing Council of the <strong>Inter</strong>-<strong>Parliamentary</strong> <strong>Union</strong>,<br />
Referring to the cases of Mr. Roy Bennett, Mr. Job Sikhala, Mr. Tichaona Munyanyi,<br />
Mr. Tendai Biti, Mr. Paul Madzore, Mr. Tumbare Mutasa, Mr. Gilbert Shoko and Mr. Nelson Chamisa,<br />
opposition members of the Parliament of Zimbabwe at the time of the submission of the complaint, as<br />
outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/183/12(b)-R.1),<br />
and to the resolution adopted at its 182 nd session (April 2008),<br />
Recalling that the persons in question either were victims of arbitrary and politically<br />
motivated prosecution and forced to flee the country for fear of their safety, as the targets of assaults, or<br />
were tortured and that the perpetrators of such criminal acts have not so far been brought to justice,<br />
Considering that Mr. Biti was rearrested on 12 June 2008 on his return from South Africa<br />
and, according to the Zimbabwe Police spokesperson, charged with treason “for publishing a document<br />
that was explaining a transitional strategy around March 26” and for proclaiming victory in the elections<br />
before the publication of the official results, and that he has been released on bail in the meantime,<br />
Considering that parliamentary elections were held in March 2008 and that Mr. Biti,<br />
Mr. Chamisa and Mr. Madzore were re-elected, that the new parliament held the Opening Ceremony<br />
on 25 August 2008, and that the House of Assembly resumed its sittings on 14 October 2008,<br />
<strong>No</strong>ting that none of the information it has requested in its resolution of April 2008 has<br />
been provided by the authorities,<br />
1. Is alarmed at the treason charges brought against Mr. Biti on grounds which cannot be<br />
construed as treason and should be dismissed forthwith;<br />
2. Requests the Secretary General to contact the new parliamentary authorities and to seek<br />
their assistance in addressing the concerns that it has consistently expressed in these cases,<br />
in the hope that the new parliament and government will act as promptly as possible;<br />
3. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session,<br />
to be held on the occasion of the 120 th Assembly of the IPU (April 2009).<br />
28 Mr. Mutasa and Mr. Shoko are deceased.