Ex-CIO Exposes Horrific Acts of Torture in UK Asylum Case

SW Radio Africa (London)

Tererai Karimakwenda

19 May 2011

The testimony of a former intelligence agent from Zimbabwe, who has been granted protection in the UK, has exposed ruthless acts of torture, rape and murder committed against MDC supporters in Zimbabwe.

Last week the ex-CIO agent told the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal in Wales how he victimized MDC supporters from 1999 to 2000, confessing to brutal acts with details “too gruesome” to reveal in court.

The court protected his identity but numerous media reports on Thursday named the agent as Phillip Machemedze and despite his shocking confessions he was granted protection under the European Human Rights Convention. Justice David Archer said his life would be in danger if sent back to Zimbabwe.

Machemedze’s wife, who claimed to be an active member of the MDC and the rights group ROHR, was granted asylum as a refugee. Both were originally denied asylum by the Home Office and had appealed. Surprisingly the Home Office is not challenging the decision to protect the admitted murderer.

Rights activists have expressed deep concern that the former ZANU PF agent may never be made to account for the vicious crimes he committed against innocent civilians. It is feared that this lack of accountability will deprive his victims of any sense of justice and help bring closure to their suffering.

Machemedze told the court he had joined the CIO in 1996. He admitted that he once smashed the jaw of an MDC supporter and pulled out his teeth using pliers. He also said that in 2000 he tortured a white farmer named Thornhill by electrocuting and beating him until he was unconscious. The farmer had been “rumored” to be financially supporting the MDC. He also admitted to the kidnapping and torture of dozens of MDC supporters. “Some were killed slowly and their bodies disposed of.”

According to the Daily News newspaper; “Machemedze worked as a bodyguard to Enos Chikowore, after completing his training by the Chinese and war veterans in 1996.”

Sanderson Makombe, who was himself assaulted by ZANU PF thugs in Zimbabwe, said he was saddened by the fact that nothing is being done to prosecute the former operative. He said; “If there is to be justice, people have to take responsibility for what they did. Accountability is the cornerstone of democracy.”

Makombe added that he sees a contradiction between a country’s duty to protect victims under the Human Rights Charter and the responsibility to prosecute criminals under the U.N. Convention against Torture. “The UK is signatory to the Convention against Torture and it would not be difficult to bring criminal charges against this guy,” Makombe said.

Machemedze’s confessions confirm that that the security sector in Zimbabwe is deeply engaged in political activity and has been involved in assaults against opposition party officials and members. ZANU PF has always denied these allegations.

Reform of the security sector is one of the key issues being called for by the MDC-T and civic groups ahead of any elections in the country.

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