Zambia urged to reaffirm ICC membership

Zambia has been urged to reaffirm its membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) by a group of African and International nongovernmental organisations.

This is in response to the African Union summit's adoption in January of an "ICC withdrawal strategy." An unprecedented 16 countries, including Zambia, entered reservations to the decision.

The organisations that expressed support for Zambia's continued ICC membership include,  Africa Legal Aid, Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability-Ghana, Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law-Sierra Leone, Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana among others.
 
According to Boniface Cheembe, the executive director for executive director of Zambia's Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, Zambia has much to gain by staying with the ICC.

"Zambia has been a role model on the continent in matters of peace, democracy, and human rights. Leaving the ICC would erode the country's leadership and threaten respect for the rights of victims of the most brutal crimes across Africa," he stated.

Dewa Mavhinga the Southern Africa director at Human Rights Watch says: "The ICC has room for improvement, but it offers hope to victims who have nowhere else to turn for justice."

He adds that ICC serves African victims who have suffered atrocities.

Human Rights Watch reports that Zambia's government began public consultations on the country's ICC membership the week of March 27, 2017.
 
Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh,the executive director Southern Africa Litigation Centre says: "We would encourage Zambia to reaffirm its support for the court, particularly in the absence of any functioning regional criminal court that can hold perpetrators to account."
 
Last year, Several African countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Burundi among others had expressed interest in exiting membership to the Hague based court.

Recently, Uganda's MPs asked the Attorney General William Byaruhanga to explain the Government decision on whether it considers exiting ICC. However, Byaruhanga speaking during plenary session said he had not received any official communication regarding the matter.