via War prisoners to sue Britain for Smith regime atrocities | The Herald 27 November 2014 by Noah Pito
Former Prisoners of War Association of Zimbabwe (FPOWZ), Hurungwe-Nyaminyami Chapter in Mashonaland West Province, has resolved to sue the British government for atrocities committed against its members during the Ian Smith regime.
Association secretary-general Mr Stone Chakabvapasi said they made several efforts to get compensation from the former colonisers without success.
“We wrote them several times giving them our side of the story. The type of arguments they are presenting are not in sync with the reality. Since 2000 we have been giving them our side of the story while they have always been hiding behind the finger claiming that the Ian Smith’s was a rogue administration for which they should not be held responsible,” said Cde Chakabvapasi.
The British Government responded to the association on October 3, 2012 through Wayne Ives — the head of the Zimbabwe Unit, Africa Directorate.
“First and foremost, let me reiterate the UK Government’s firm commitment to advancing human rights and our condemnation of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment .Torture is an abhorrent violation of human rights and human dignity and the UK has and will continue to condemn such practices unreservedly.
“The dates of these cases all fall during either the period of the administration of the Rhodesian Colonial Government or of the Smith Government following his Unilateral Declaration of Independence(UDI). As Alluded to in my letter of November 8, 2011, any claims for the way in which you and your colleagues were treated by those authorities would therefore lie against whichever of them was in power at the time and not against UK Government,” he said.
“Issues concerning the liabilities of the Colonial Administration were dealt with at the time of Zimbabwe’s Independence. Further, I note that the Zimbabwe Act 1979 provides a general amnesty under UK law for any proceedings in tort or reparation brought within the UK in respect of certain activities which occurred before Zimbabwe became independent. As such we are unlikely to hold any in respect of incidents that occurred after November 11, 1965.”
Despite claims by the British Government that it should not be held responsible for the atrocities and therefore compensation, Cde Chakabvapasi said his association was engaging International Human Rights Lawyers.
“We are consulting International Human Rights Lawyers so that they file a suit against the British government over the matter.
“The matter is obviously going to be heard at a London Court.
“We are demanding compensation to the tune of 30 million pounds. Their argument is very cheap. Why did Rhodesian governor Lord Soames and Prince Charles come here to lower the Union Jack on April 18, 1980, if the British government had nothing to do with Ian Smith? said Mr Chakabvapasi.
COMMENTS
Mr Stone, the only ones who are going to get something out of this is the lawyers you going to have to pay. Think about it and dont waste your money.
“Their argument is very cheap. Why did Rhodesian governor Lord Soames and Prince Charles come here to lower the Union Jack on April 18, 1980, if the British government had nothing to do with Ian Smith? said Mr Chakabvapasi.”
The answer is cheaper. The British raised their flag when Soames assumed power and lowered it when he handed over power. During Rhodesia days the Rhodesian flag was on the raised flag, not the Union Jack.
Reverend it is difficult to talk to a stone.
Oh! Can the villagers claim for lips cut off, limbs cut off, babies bayoneted, women raped and forced to eat the cooked entrails of their family? I think not. Maybe the War Vets should be paying those families they murdered during the war. What about the Gukurahundi massacres. You think Mugarbage would ever pay the families that survived that genocide? The reason why you want the money is because Mugarbage promised you the earth and as usual delivered nothing.
Good Lord! Is there no end to their sense of entitlement or stupidity!!!
They are clueless as to how the law works. They’re welcome to waste their money on lawyers, anyone can, but they haven’t any chance of collecting a penny from the British.
“Atrocities”? Criminals were imprisoned for crimes. I can’t imagine what their charges were.
Uku ndiko kunonzi KURWARA chaiko.
Spiritual guidance is a must for this clique.