The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,
Referring to the cases of Mr. Roy Bennett, Mr. Job Sikhala, Mr. Tichaona Munyanyi, Mr. Tendai Biti, Mr. Paul Madzore, Mr. Tumbare Mutasa, Mr. Gilbert Shoko and Mr. Nelson Chamisa, opposition members of the Parliament of Zimbabwe at the time of the submission of the complaint, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/183/12(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 182nd session (April 2008),
Recalling that the persons in question either were victims of arbitrary and politically motivated prosecution and forced to flee the country for fear of their safety, as the targets of assaults, or were tortured and that the perpetrators of such criminal acts have not so far been brought to justice,
Considering that Mr. Biti was rearrested on 12 June 2008 on his return from South Africa and, according to the Zimbabwe Police spokesperson, charged with treason “for publishing a document that was explaining a transitional strategy around March 26” and for proclaiming victory in the elections before the publication of the official results, and that he has been released on bail in the meantime,
Considering that parliamentary elections were held in March 2008 and that Mr. Biti, Mr. Chamisa and Mr. Madzore were re-elected, that the new parliament held the Opening Ceremony on 25 August 2008, and that the House of Assembly resumed its sittings on 14 October 2008,
Noting that none of the information it has requested in its resolution of April 2008 has been provided by the authorities,
- Is alarmed at the treason charges brought against Mr. Biti on grounds which cannot be construed as treason and should bedismissed forthwith;
- Requests the Secretary General to contact the new parliamentary authorities and to seek their assistance in addressing the concerns that it has consistently expressed in these cases, in the hope that the new parliament and government will act as promptly as possible;
- Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 120th Assembly of the IPU (April 2009).
HUMAN RIGHTS