African Commission finds Zimbabwe responsible for torture of rights lawyer

Banjul, The Gambia, 22 March 2013: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has found the Zimbabwe Government responsible for the torture and ill-treatment of Gabriel Shumba, a well-known human rights advocate and lawyer from Zimbabwe. This is the first time in its 26-year history for the most important human rights body in Africa to hold Zimbabwe responsible for torture.

Mr Shumba, who was representing human rights activists and members of the opposition party MDC before courts in Zimbabwe at the time of his arrest and torture at the hands of the police and intelligence personnel, emphasised that the ruling went beyond his case.

‘This important ruling adds to Africa’s struggle against impunity, and the case is representative of thousands who have suffered torture and various indignities at the hands of a repressive regime in Zimbabwe,’ said Mr Shumba, who fled to South Africa for fear of his life in 2003, shortly after his torture. Mr Shumba brought a complaint before the African Commission in 2004.

In its decision, the African Commission considered that Mr Shumba had submitted ‘more than adequate evidence’ to support his allegation of torture and ill-treatment, including being subjected to prolonged electric shocks in the mouth, genitals, fingers, toes and other parts of the body. It said Zimbabwe failed to open a n official investigation and that it should do so and bring those responsible to justice.

The decision also alluded to the impunity with which torture is being committed in Zimbabwe which made it impossible for Mr Shumba to seek justice before Zimbabwean courts. In particular, it acknowledges that he would have undergone great risks had he returned to Zimbabwe to seek justice, stating that ‘there was no guarantee that he would not have been arrested or subjected to the same treatment he had been subjected to the previous time.’

The Commission also made it clear that remedies in Zimbabwe ‘are inadequate, ineffective and unavailable’ and ordered Zimbabwe to pay Mr Shumba adequate compensation for the torture and trauma caused to him. Zimbabwe has 90 days to implement the decision.

‘The Government of Zimbabwe and the African Union's commitment to ending impunity will be measured against a clear yardstick of implementation of the decision of the African Co mmission on Human and Peoples Rights,’ added Mr Shumba.

‘This decision is emblematic of the widespread use of state terror to coerce and cow a subject population. It is not merely a legal decision in favour of a single victim but rather a recognition by Africa's most important and prestigious institution that the practice of disappearing people and beating them to within an inch of their lives will no longer be ignored by Zimbabwe's neighbours,’ said David Padilla, Mr Shumba’s lawyer.

‘The decision once more underlines the crucial role of the Commission in providing justice to victims who have nowhere else to go,’ said Dadimos Haile, Interim-Director of REDRESS, who supported Mr Shumba’s claim. ‘While we would have hoped that the Commission’s ruling on reparation is more inclusive of other forms of reparation recognised under international law, particularly access to medical and psychological rehabilitation, this ruling is a n important acknowledgment of the torture committed against Mr Shumba and the obligation of the Government of Zimbabwe to provide him with compensation,’ added Haile.

BACKGROUND TO THE CASE

Gabriel Shumba is a well-known human rights lawyer who has represented human rights activists and members of the former opposition party MDC before courts in Zimbabwe. Mr Shumba was arrested by the Zimbabwean riot police and personnel from the Central Intelligence Organisation on 14 January 2003, while taking instructions from a client. He was kicked and beaten, detained without charge and severely tortured and ill-treated for several hours. Interrogators threatened Mr Shumba with death, electrocuted him and poured a chemical substance over his body. He lost control of his bodily functions, vomited blood and was forced to drink his vomit. Following his torture in 2003, he was forced to flee to South Africa, where is currently living. Mr Shumba is the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, advocate of the High Court of South Africa and a member of the Johannesburg Bar. He filed the complaint against Zimbabwe with the African Com mission on 24 May 2004. Click here to read more about the case.

For further information, please contact:
Gabriel Shumba, Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, on +27846649798 or [email][email protected]
Eva Sanchis, Communications Officer, at REDRESS on +44 (0) 20 7793 1777 or
[email][email protected]

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum is a Southern African non-political, non-profit and non-partisan organisation with an eye on the future of Zimbabwe. It was founded in 2003 in South Africa on the premise that political change that will usher in a democratic dispensation where human dignity and civil liberties are sacrosanct in Zimbabwe is inevitable. More information on our work is available on our website: www.zimexilesforum.org

REDRESS was founded by a torture survivor in 1992. Since then, it has