Johannesburg — AMNESTY International secretary-general Irene Khan will hold meetings with Zimbabwe's senior government officials, including President Robert Mugabe, at the weekend as part of her mission to assess the humanitarian situation in the country.The visit by the global human rights watchdog will put Zimbabwe's appalling human rights record in the spotlight at a time when western countries are refusing to give the country financial aid because of lack of reforms there.
"From June 13-18, Khan will lead a high-level mission to Zimbabwe, during which she plans to meet human rights activists, victims of human rights violations and senior government officials, including Mugabe," Amnesty said.
Mugabe was once classified by Amnesty as a " prisoner of conscience" during his anticolonial struggles in the 1960s and 1970s, but was later condemned for human rights abuses.
Zimbabwe has a long history of gross human rights abuses since 1980. Hundreds of opposition political activists were killed last year during a violent general election.
* All Africa
