REDRESS/AMANI however, been criticised for failing to properly investigate a Zimbabwean police officer allegedly involved in torture in Zimbabwe who was member of the UN civil police presence in Kosovo.65 Certain limited but specific political steps have been taken to pressurise the Mugabe regime to stop flouting basic international human rights norms.66 For a considerable time African countries showed little inclination to challenge the Mugabe Government, but a critical Report of the African Commission after its factfinding mission to Zimbabwe in June 2002 was finally adopted by the African Union in January 2005.67 This was a significant development which outraged the Zimbabwe regime, but foreseeing that the Report could no longer be blocked the Government used somewhat different tactics to those it had adopted in the run up to the 2000 and 2002 elections, and there was a reduction in state-sponsored violence prior to the March 2005 elections. Nevertheless, the major African power in the region, South Africa, continues to support Mugabe, as it has since 2000 when the current crisis began to escalate. South African President Thabo Mbeki has repeatedly assured the international community that South Africa’s policy of ‘quiet diplomacy’ would help to halt Zimbabwe’s slide into disaster. More than five years later, there is no sign that his support for Zanu-PF has brought Zimbabwe any closer to resolving any of its manifold economic, social, political and human rights problems. On the contrary, things continue to deteriorate and, following the South African Government’s acceptance of the election process and outcome, in April 2005 the MDC reportedly stated that it was cutting off contact with the South Africa Government.68 was suspended from the Commonwealth, and restrictions placed on Zanu-PF leaders travelling to the EU and the USA. 64 For example, the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers of the UN Commission on Human Rights has in recent years repeatedly called upon the Zanu-PF Government to desist from its attacks on the judiciary and the legal profession. 65 See: The case of Henry Dowa – The United Nations and Zimbabwe Under the Spotlight, REDRESS, January 2004. This policeman, alleged to have committed torture in Zimbabwe before being sent to Kosovo, has been implicated in further allegations of torture in Zimbabwe after the UN sent him back. The latest incident was reported in the Zimbabwe Daily Mirror on 11 April 2005, linking him to allegations of torturing MDC MP Nelson Chamisa in police custody shortly after the March 2005 elections. 66 In addition to EU and USA travel restrictions on Zanu-PF leaders, both the EU (in 2002) and the USA (in 2003) have applied “ smart sanctions”against Mugabe and his key government personnel, including freezing their assets and banning any business with them. These restrictions and sanctions have been renewed annually and are still in force. For an example of a devastating summary of the current economic, social, political and legal crisis in Zimbabwe, with emphasis on massive food shortages, see Zimbabwe on the Brink, released on 18 February 2003. Launched at a press conference in London, it was compiled by Glenys Kinnock, (a Labour Member of the European Parliament), Derek Wyatt (a Labour Member of the House of Commons) and Lord Hughes of Woodside (a Labour Member of the House of Lords). 67 For the full text of the Executive Summary of the Report of the Fact-finding Mission to Zimbabwe 24th to 28th June 2002 Zimbabwe, see Appendix I. Amongst other things, the Report stated: “ Especially alarming was… the arrest and torture of opposition members of parliament and human rights lawyers like Gabriel Shumba” . It also said: “ By its statements and political rhetoric, and by its failure at critical moments to uphold the rule of law, the government failed to chart a path that signalled a commitment to the rule of law.” 68 Reuters South Africa reported as follows on 20 April 2005: Asked to comment on South African media reports that the MDC had cut ties with Mbeki's government,[MDC spokesperson] Nyathi said: "We have simply said we see no purpose whatsoever in participating in a charade.” http://www.reuters.co.za/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp;:426657ed:6d4f93e1d58d1be?type=topNews&localeKey=en_ZA &storyID=8238198 13