Zimbabwe, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Union Zimbabwe was a member of the Organisation of African Unity, and subsequently became a founding member of the African Union in 2002. The African Commission on Human and Peoples‘ Rights undertook a fact-finding mission to the Republic of Zimbabwe from 24th to 28th June 2002. The report of the fact-finding mission was subsequently submitted to the African Commission on Human and Peoples‘ Rights, and thereafter to the African Union. Throughout this process the Zimbabwe Government vehemently denied the findings of the fact-finding mission, vilified its members and the NGO community that had made representation to the mission, and sought by all means to delay or avoid any discussion of the report in the councils of the African Union. There is a very similar to the response by the Zimbabwe Government of the report on Operation Murambatsvina by the UN Special Envoy. Thus, instead of taking a positive and responsible attitude to its obligations under international and regional instruments, to which it had voluntarily acceded, the Zimbabwe Government has always denied the allegations, sought to delay discussion, and avoided taking any action. This again does not augur well for its response to the report of the UN Special Envoy. Conclusions Throughout the years, the Zanu PF Government has displayed complete intolerance towards any political opposition, and has waged an ongoing campaign of violent suppression against opposition leaders, office bearers, and supporters. When a strong opposition party emerged in the late nineteen nineties, its violence against the opposition greatly intensified. Many political opponents have been assaulted or tortured, many of their houses and families have been attacked and many have been arrested and incarcerated on bogus charges . 43 The ruling party has thus created crisis after crisis with its brutal and repressive actions, actions usually aimed at smashing opposition and strengthening the autocratic grip on power. In other words, these manmade crises result from bad governance and anti-democratic tendencies. Whenever these wounds are inflicted on the community, the international community is then expected to help clean up the mess and to treat the wounds. What Zimbabweans desperately need is that the wounds are not inflicted in the first place. In other words, what is needed is the restoration of true democracy in which the Government is responsive to the people‘s needs, and avoids engaging in actions that are palpably detrimental to the interests of the people. What the Zimbabwean people need is a Government that respects and abides by the rule of law and does not inflict unnecessary suffering upon its own people. Whilst it is arguable that on its own the inhumanity of Operation Murambatsvina does not constitute a crime against humanity under the Rome statute, it is strongly arguable that, in combination, the whole succession of repressive measures taken by the Zimbabwean Government over a number of years do constitute a crime against humanity. Even if this argument cannot be sustained, what is certain is that