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Prosecuting International Crimes in Africa - PULP - University of ...

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Implementation <strong>of</strong> the Rome Statute <strong>in</strong> Malawi and Zambia 299<br />

proceed<strong>in</strong>gs may be commenced aga<strong>in</strong>st a sitt<strong>in</strong>g President, the National<br />

Assembly can by resolution allow proceed<strong>in</strong>gs to proceed aga<strong>in</strong>st a former<br />

President where it determ<strong>in</strong>es that such proceed<strong>in</strong>gs are not contrary to the<br />

<strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> the state. 101 This <strong>in</strong> essence means that the Zambian National<br />

Assembly can waive the immunity that normally attaches to the <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong><br />

the President. It is under the preced<strong>in</strong>g arrangement that the Zambian<br />

National Assembly proceeded to lift the immunity <strong>of</strong> the former head <strong>of</strong><br />

state, Frederick Chiluba, pav<strong>in</strong>g the way for his trial on corruption<br />

charges. 102<br />

Further immunities <strong>in</strong> Zambian law are provided <strong>in</strong> the Diplomatic<br />

Immunities and Privileges Act. 103 As the short title to this Act <strong>in</strong>dicates,<br />

this is an Act that is meant to give effect to the Vienna Convention on<br />

Diplomatic Relations and to provide for the immunities, privileges and<br />

capacities <strong>of</strong> certa<strong>in</strong> organisations and persons. In furtherance <strong>of</strong> the<br />

preced<strong>in</strong>g purpose the Act lists the provisions <strong>of</strong> the Vienna Convention on<br />

Diplomatic Relations which have the force <strong>of</strong> law <strong>in</strong> Zambia. 104 The<br />

Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act generally protects all<br />

diplomatic agents and diplomatic premises from <strong>in</strong>terference by the law<br />

enforcement agencies <strong>of</strong> Zambia.<br />

In spite <strong>of</strong> Zambia’s extensive provisions on <strong>of</strong>ficial immunity, one<br />

must realise that by sign<strong>in</strong>g up to the Rome Statute, Zambia has contracted<br />

to comply with a regime that, <strong>in</strong> essence, makes irrelevant all the elaborate<br />

provisions on <strong>of</strong>ficial immunity. This is particularly true where the people<br />

sought to be conferred with the immunity are suspected <strong>of</strong> committ<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

<strong>of</strong>fences listed <strong>in</strong> the Rome Statute. It is largely as a result <strong>of</strong> such<br />

<strong>in</strong>consistencies that the need to properly domesticate the Rome Statute<br />

arises. Through the mechanism <strong>of</strong> domestication Zambia would then take<br />

a conscious effort to properly resolve this manifest <strong>in</strong>consistency between<br />

provisions <strong>of</strong> its local law and its obligations under the Statute. While<br />

Zambia, like Malawi, may be stall<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> harmonis<strong>in</strong>g its laws on <strong>of</strong>ficial<br />

immunities, it is important to recognise that should a Zambian national be<br />

charged with Rome Statute <strong>of</strong>fences, such a national would not be able to<br />

raise the immunity provided <strong>in</strong> local law as a defence.<br />

5.1.3 The law regulat<strong>in</strong>g extradition and surrender<br />

As highlighted earlier <strong>in</strong> the chapter, the ICC relies on state parties to effect<br />

arrests and also facilitate the surrender <strong>of</strong> suspects to it for the purposes <strong>of</strong><br />

101 Sec 43(3) Constitution <strong>of</strong> Zambia.<br />

102 The Zambian National Assembly removed former President F Chiluba’s immunity <strong>in</strong><br />

2002. He was subsequently tried and acquitted <strong>of</strong> corruption charges. See, ‘Zambians<br />

jubilate over lift<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Chiluba’s immunity’ at http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-<br />

13314964.html (accessed 25 March 2010).<br />

103 Ch 20 <strong>of</strong> the Laws <strong>of</strong> Zambia.<br />

104 Sec 3(1) and the First Schedule to the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act.

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