No ICC Probe Despite Rising Political Violence
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that Zambia is not currently under investigation.
This is despite moves by opposition politicians to report increased political violence and violent crackdowns to the Court, including incidents in which unarmed opposition supporters and civil society protestors have been subjected to tear gas and live ammunition.
Concerns are already mounting that the next election, expected in 2021, will see an increase in the violence of the 2015 and 2016 polls.
Ahead of the 2016 polls President Lungu threatened opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema of the action he would take if the UPND refused to accept the election results, at a rally stating in Bemba “he will see what I will do to him.” Just days later UPND support Mapenzi Chibulo was gunned down by police. More than three years on her family still await justice. Meanwhile, Hichilema has faced raids by armed police and periods of detention in maximum-security facilities for charges that were subsequently dropped.
Zambia has witnessed an increase in politically motivated violence under the Patriotic Front (PF), particularly since the selection of President Edgar Lungu as the party’s flag bearer back in 2014. Lungu’s selection itself was allegedly plagued with threats of violence, with reports of attempts to forcibly coerce former acting President and Vice President to President Michael Sata (MHSRIP), Guy Scott. It was then that Lungu first became known to some as the ‘Panga President’, with armed cadres flooding Kabwe to secure his selection at the party's disputed convention.
As things stand Zambia continues to remain an ICC signatory, despite some recent discussion of withdrawal within the PF. Justice Minister Given Lubinda has confirmed that consultative processes regarding a possible withdrawal have resulted in a decision to remain party to the Rome Statute, in accordance with the wishes of citizens.
The Court, which is headed up by Gambian prosecutor Mrs Fatou Bensouda, has this week confirmed that investigations are currently underway in Nigeria, Guinea, Ukraine, Venezuela, Columbia, Libya, Darfur, Georgia, Philippines and Palestine among others.
Speaking on Zambia’s continued membership, Justice Minister Given Lubinda was quoted as stating “Zambia remains committed to upholding and defending the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute as well as preserving its integrity. Zambia also upholds the fight of the ICC, intended to put an end to impunity of perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to international law and the international community as a while and thus commits to contribute to the preservation of such crimes.”
