* Ruling applies to Zimbabweans in South Africa
* Mugabe and ruling party members suspected of abuses
* Could make it hard for ZANU-PF officials to travel to
S.Africa
By Jon Herskovitz
JOHANNESBURG, May 8 (Reuters) – A South African court ruled
on Tuesday its legal system can be used to investigate and
prosecute citizens of neighbouring Zimbabwe for suspected of
crimes against humanity.
The decision by a high court in Pretoria could prod South
Africa into launching investigations into high-ranking Harare
officials that would strain already difficult diplomatic
relations with the power-sharing government in Zimbabwe.
The ruling applies to Zimbabweans in South Africa and could
be extended to those who have travel plans to the country.
President Robert Mugabe and several members of his ruling
ZANU-PF have already been hit with international sanctions for
suspected human rights abuses that include using death squads to
intimidate citizens and rigging elections to stay in power.
“This judgment will send a shiver down the spines of
Zimbabwean officials who believed that they would never be held
to account for their crimes but now face investigation by the
South African authorities,” said Nicole Fritz, executive
director of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre – one of the
applicants.
Continued…
