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US may appeal SA decision to extradite Chang to Mozambique – analysts
12:55 CAT | 22 May 2019
The Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse, Brooklyn. [Photo: wikimedia]
Mozambican analysts have told Lusa that the US may appeal the South African government’s decision to extradite former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang to his own country.
“It seems to me that the case is not yet closed, because this decision is also subject to appeal and, therefore, more argument will take place,” Fernando Lima, president of the Mozambican media group Mediacoop said.
The decision is not surprising, he said, considering the party political history of Mozambique and South Africa.
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“Strictly on the political side of the matter, any other decision was not to be expected,” even taking into account the existence of “an extradition treaty between South Africa and the US” which may be a “strong legal element”.
Fernando Lima points out that the South African executive is led by the African National Congress (ANC), “a political formation with strong links to the government of Mozambique” and that, on the other hand, Maputo, “without even being too discreet, took several initiatives giving the South African government its view that its former finance minister should be sent to his country of origin”.
Lima also recalls the “rather crude” statement by Lindiwe Sisulu, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, who in February announced the extradition of Chang to Mozambique and was promptly rebutted by a government spokesman, who said there would only be a decision after the court proceedings.
However, today there is the feeling that Sisulu might have “let the cat out of the bag due to her political inclinations”, Lima concluded.
ALSO READ: ALSO READ: “We’re sending him to Mozambique to be tried….And we believe that is the easiest thing for everybody” – Sisulu tells Daily Maverick
Borges Nhamire, an analyst at the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), a Mozambican NGO that has been monitoring the case in South Africa, told Lusa that the organisation believes this is not going to be “the final decision”.
“We expect the US to appeal, because they can do so,” and that Chang will handed over to the US justice, he said.
The CIP “is clearly against Chang’s extradition to Mozambique”, where “nothing happened to him until the Americans issued the arrest warrant”.
“We believe it is important that he is tried in the US for more information to be made public. Mozambican courts either have no capacity or interest in clarifying the case,” he concluded.
The theme is sparking comments on social networks on the Internet.
“Comrades above justice, law and public interest,” writes Adriano Nuvunga, anti-corruption activist, former director of CIP and now leader of the NGO Association for Development and Society (ADS).
#Comrades above #Justice, #Law and #public interest. @ANCParliament @ANCYLhq @CyrilRamaphosa saves @FRELIMONLINE. SA Minister of Justice, Michael Masutha, sends #ManuelChang back home to ??. pic.twitter.com/CSUdOj9wqv
— Prof. Adriano Nuvunga (@adriano_nuvunga) May 21, 2019
If Michael Mashuta could watch or listen the Mozambicans calling radio and tv stations tonight, to react to this news, he would see how unfortunate and disappointing his decision is. https://t.co/oKlQnr3Bt1
— Zenaida Machado (@zenaidamz) May 21, 2019
This is not abt what I prefer. Millions of Mozambicans have lost their faith in the country’s judicial system. I think those who believe the American courts would produce a better and more transparent trial, have a point. Moz judicial have disappointed more than once. https://t.co/OOpWe7JgzH
— Zenaida Machado (@zenaidamz) May 21, 2019
Imunidade de deputado não foi levantada é expectável que Manuel Chang possa até ser detido quando chegar ao Aeroporto Internacional de Mavalane, mas será uma questão de tempo (pouco) até voltar a estar livre enquanto aguarda que a PGR o acuse #Moçambique https://t.co/3mpMU1P5ne
— Verdade Democracia (@DemocraciaMZ) May 22, 2019
Source: Lusa
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