Page "Mengistu Haile Mariam" Paragraph 24

Mengistu still resides in Zimbabwe, despite the Ethiopian government's desire that he be extradited.

He is said to live in luxurious circumstances, and it is claimed that he advises Mugabe on security matters ; according to one report, he proposed the idea of clearing slums, which was implemented as Operation Murambatsvina in 2005, and chaired meetings at which the operation was planned.

State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa strongly denied that Mengistu was involved in Operation Murambatsvina in any way, saying that Mengistu " does not interfere at all with the affairs of our country.

We also do not allow him to interfere with his country from Zimbabwe.