A GLOBAL non-governmental organisation, African Forum for Cultural Diplomacy (AFFCD) has written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa expressing concerns over the arrest and detention of former Cabinet minister and the organisation’s leader Walter Mzembi by the Zimbabwean authorities.
Mzembi, the former minister of Foreign Affairs as well as and Tourism and Hospitality in the late former President Robert Mugabe’s administration, recently returned to Zimbabwe after several years of being in self-imposed exile.
He went into exile at the height of a military coup that deposed Mugabe in November 2017 and catapulted Mnangagwa to power.
On his return, Mzembi was arrested and his several bids to secure bail have hit a brick wall.
In a letter dated September 11, directed to Mnangagwa, AFFCD secretary-general Pardon Tapfumaneyi, who is based in England, called for the freeing of Mzembi.
“We, the AFFCD, a global non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting cultural diplomacy, are compelled to bring to your attention a matter of utmost gravity and concern,” the letter wrote.
“As the president of AFFCD, Mzembi, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Zimbabwe, has been arrested and detained under circumstances that raise serious questions about human rights, diplomatic protocols and the rule of law.”
In the letter, Tapfumaneyi told Mnangagwa that they were concerned over Mzembi’s arrest, particularly that he had been invited to Zimbabwe under the guarantee of Mnangagwa’s office.
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“His continued detention without bail or a trial date, despite his deteriorating health, is a matter of grave concern,” AFFCD said.
“As a State party bound by the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and a member State of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Zimbabwe’s actions contravene global standards that promote state accountability and human rights.”
Tapfumaneyi said Mzembi was invited to Zimbabwe for cultural diplomacy efforts, guaranteed by Mnangagwa’s office, and should have been granted diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).
“This matter is beginning to tarnish your image and that of the second republic on the international scale. Through AFFCD, Mzembi engaged the Commonwealth Secretariat, British Foreign Affairs Department, House of Lords, and Commons to re-engage Zimbabwe into the comity of nations and the Commonwealth,” the letter read.
“Mzembi formulated a framework for a possible summit, welcomed and supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the institute for Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin.
“Mzembi’s health has deteriorated significantly over the past three months in custody, raising serious concerns about his well-being.”
The letter urged Mnangagwa’s office to intervene in Mzembi’s plight, “who appears to be a victim of circumstance”.
“We respectfully request the unconditional release of Mzembi from custody. His next remand date is September 25 at Rotten Row Magistrates court 14,” Tapfumaneyi wrote.
“. . . We look forward to your prompt attention to this matter and trust that Dr Mzembi’s situation will be resolved in a manner that upholds the principles of justice, diplomacy and human rights.”
As of yesterday, Mnangagwa’s office was yet to respond to AFFCD’s letter.
Mzembi was arrested in June this year by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission shortly after his return to the country.
