Staff Reporter
Three judges of the Review Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) sitting at the Hague in Netherlands today threw out an appeal made by former Zimbabwe Finance Minister Tendai Biti seeking to stop a case against him from being heard by the international court of last resort.
The case was put forward yesterday at the ICC by a local pressure group, Rise up Zimbabwe.
They want Biti tried on five allegations cited as political murders; rape of underage girls and women; human Trafficking of young girls for sex and slave workers; abuse of political trust and fraud.
The three judges who threw out Biti’s appeal at the ICC for the case not to be heard are Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza acting as Presiding Judge as well as Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze and Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin.
Part of the written judgement reads:
“The three judges of the Review Chamber of the International Criminal Court, In the review by the Court on Tendai Laxton Biti’s concern on ICC accepting the case submitted by
Raise-Up Zimbabwe on 23/7/2005, Render unanimously the following DECISION:
“1. Case submitted by Tendai Laxton Biti reviewed under article 110(3) of the Statute, Submission of documents by Raise-Up Zimbabwe on 23/7/2025 at International Criminal Court on allegations against Tendai Laxton Biti is UPHELD.
“2. We recommend TENDAI LAXTON BITI has a case to answer. 3. We recommend investigation teams at the ICC start the process of investigating the allegations against Tendai Laxton Biti. 4. Tendai Laxton Biti cannot stop these investigations, but will be given the opportunity to
respond in due course.”
The judgement revealed that according to the Tendai Laton Defence, “Tendai Laxton Biti demonstrated that he will only co-operative at the ICC level only. There is evident that Tendai Laxton Biti has superior powers or influence over the entire Zimbabwe Justice System.”
Article 110 (4) (a) of the Statute will be applied to determine if charges are formalised against Biti and the ICC has the responsibility to protect alleged victims and the pressure group Raise-Up Zimbabwe from victimation.
All parties will be updated on any developments in relation to the case, said the three ICC judges.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community such as crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
The court also tries individuals over genocide and war crimes as a court of last resort.
About Author
