Zim first lady ‘can’t hide behind diplomatic immunity’
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, should not be allowed to abuse diplomatic immunity to cover for her alleged disgraceful acts, the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) said yesterday.
“As things stand, she is a fugitive from the law who must be held accountable for (the) alleged vicious attack that was committed on South African soil before she was granted diplomatic immunity,” said Sanco national spokesperson Jabu Mahlangu. “South Africa should not roll (out) the red carpet for her at the Southern African Development Community meeting (on the) first spouses’ programme.”
South Africa could not be seen to be compromising its criminal justice system.
“Equality before the law is a sacrosanct provision of our constitution, (and) applies to everyone who finds themselves within South Africa’s borders,” Mahlangu said.
Grace Mugabe allegedly attacked a young woman with an extension cord after finding her with her two sons in Sandton, Johannesburg.
The young woman suffered head injuries and bruises to her body.
The first lady was to hand herself over to police for a warning statement on Tuesday after arrangements were made with her lawyers.
Mahlangu said the authorities should give her an ultimatum to present herself before a South African court of law or, alternatively, approach Interpol for her arrest and extradition for her to stand trial in South Africa.
The police ministry confirmed this week that Zimbabwe’s first lady had approached the government in an attempt to invoke diplomatic immunity.
The South African Police Service referred to Grace Mugabe not by name, but as a “suspect” in all communications this week.
“The suspect’s lawyers and her government representatives made verbal representations to SAPS investigators that the suspect wished to invoke diplomatic immunity cover and thus she elected to change her mind about the warning statement,” the ministry said.
It confirmed that the Zimbabwean government had dispatched a diplomatic note to the Department of International Relations and Co-operation invoking diplomatic immunity cover. – ANA