Igihe.com has reliably learnt that Zimbabwean police have issued an arrest warrant against Rwandan genocide suspect, Protais Mpiranya, bowing to international pressure following allegations that the country had offered sanctuary to the mass murderer.
The United States government has offered a reward of US$5 million to anyone who “furnishes information leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country” of Mpiranya, a former commander of presidential guard, accused of partaking in an operation to exterminate Tutsis.
Jeanbosco Siboyintore, the Acting head of Rwanda’s Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit (GFTU) told Igihe.com, “in the recent African Prosecutor’s meeting, we requested all African governments to help us and hunt these people and for the case of Zimbamwe; ICTR together with our government had requested to hunt for this man.”
“They had delayed and even denied the allegations saying he was not in their country but since they have started hunting for him, I think the results from the investigation will be successful ,” he pointed out.
He added that according to the 13 high profile genociders who are on the hunting list, 4 of them have been arrested.
They include Jean Uwiyindi who were in Uganda, Ildephonse Nizeyimana also caught from Uganda, Bernard Munyagishari (Congo) and also Grégoire Ndahimana (Congo).
Among others still on the hunting list of the high profile genociders include; Augustin Bizimana, who held the office of Minister of Defense in the Interim Government of 8 April 1994, Felecien Kabuga who was an influential businessman, who used his wealth to outfit the Interahamwe and other seven of them.
Zimbabwean police announced on Radio Zimbabwe last Saturday that they were searching for Mpiranya. Radio Zimbabwe is a local station that broadcasts in the vernacular Shona and Ndebele languages.
Zimbabwean Police had previously denied claims that Mpiranya was in Zimbabwe.
Chinembiri told radio listeners that Mpiranya uses several names that include James Kakule and Patrick Sambo.
The international media has also reported that the genocide suspect has other aliases including Yahaya Mohamed, Hirwa Protais Alain, Alain Protais Muhire and Mambo Mapendo Augustin.
In the radio broadcast, constable Chinembiri said any person with information on Mpiranya should immediately contact the Criminal Investigations Department, homicide section (CID-Homicide) or the nearest police station.
Three detectives identified as Maida, Muzenago and Chiremba were said to be working on the case.
Independent verifications with the Zimbabwean Police CID homicide this week proved that indeed Mpiranya was on the run.
In February last year, Belgium said the Zimbabwean government was sheltering the fugitive who was said to be operating businesses in Harare.
Some accounts alleged that the Rwandan solider stayed in Norton a few kilometres outside Harare, after arriving in the country in 2001.
Among Mpiranya’s crimes are allegations that at the start of the genocide he “tracked down, arrested, sexually assaulted and killed” Rwandan Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyi-mana.
The presidential guards, of which he was a member, are also accused of taking into custody 10 Belgian peacekeepers on United Nations duty who had been guarding her house, who were later killed.
He has been charged in absentia with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Additional reporting: financialgazette
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