Zimbabwe must cooperate with UN expert on torture

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture condemns unreservedly the failure of Zimbabwe to permit entry to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak. He was stopped by immigration officials after landing at Harare airport on October 28. Mr Nowak had been invited by the Zimbabwean government to conduct a week-long fact-finding mission but his visit was blocked at the last minute. He was informed of the cancellation only when he was in South Africa on his way to Zimbabwe.

The Medical Foundation has received hundreds of referrals for people who have fled Zimbabwe in recent years. MF clinicians who examine and treat them routinely report that torture continues to be used as a method of suppressing political dissent in Zimbabwe. Reports that Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters and human rights activists have been harassed and detained in recent days emphasise the urgent need for a fact-finding mission by an independent expert. The MF strongly supports Mr Nowak's appeal to Zimbabwe's government that he be permitted to proceed with his visit as soon as possible.