Opinion by Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo
I have been following the case against Chad’s former President Hissene Habre with keen interest.
Those who follow international news will remember how the fellow made headlines at the turn of the century when some European countries issued a warrant of arrest on him for gross human rights violations in his country while he was head of state from 1982 to 1990.
He unleashed a military wing that wantonly killed over 40 000 people from a tribe that was suspected of opposing his governance.
The military wing used all sorts of torture and brutality on its victims including rapping innocent women and killing parents right in front of their children.
When his government was eventually overthrown he fled to take refuge in Senegal. He was tried in his home country in absentia, was found guilty for the atrocities and sentenced to death.
The United Nations called for his arrest while he was in exile and Senegal heroically arrested him. Because of extradition difficulties Senegal could not send him back home nor to the Hague so Senegal was given the task to try him “on behalf of Africa.”
The case must have dragged from around 2005 or so and today sitting here in Gwanda, Zimbabwe, I join the people of Chad in celebrating their victory that justice has finally taken its course and the heartless dictator and killer has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for his brutality and disregard of human life.
This case is indeed a landmark case for Africa. This case has sent a clear message to all those who have always said that it can’t be done in Africa outside the ICC.
Africa indeed needed this kind of precedence which will be used in future as reference and warning to would be and past dictators in the contingent who value their cling to power and self enrichment more than the lives of their people.
Today Africa smells of blood of innocent people who are continuously killed for exercising their natural democratic right to decide who should lead them and how.
Today Africa smells of blood of people killed for being born into a tribe that is different from the tribe of those in authority and with power.
Today Africa smells of blood of people killed for crying out to benefit and enjoy ownership of the riches from their areas.
This is indeed Africa’s day and all of Africa (myself included) has all the reasons to join the people of Chad in this celebration. Africa must be freed from dictators as much as it was freed from colonialism. All those whose hands drip blood of innocent people must face up to justice for their madness for a better Africa tomorrow.
Nkosi sikelel’ Africa
Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo is an independent social and political commentator. He writes this in his personal capacity and the piece was extracted from his personal. Facebook page.