AT LEAST 50 human rights lawyers in Harare yesterday marched against increased attacks on their members during the course of duty mostly by political party activists.
BY FELUNA NLEYA STAFF REPORTER
The demonstration, organised by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), coincided with commemorations of the International Human Rights Day.
In their petition to the Justice and Legal Affairs ministry, High Court, Supreme Court, Attorney-General’s Office and Parliament, the lawyers expressed concern over their security and implored the other pillars of the State to guarantee their right to exercise their duty without fear.
Part of the petition read: “ZLHR is greatly concerned about the rising patterns of threats, harassment and attacks against lawyers and by the seeming inaction from the relevant authorities.
“Indeed, the fundamental and constitutionally–protected right of the general populace to legal representation and to the protection of the law suffers great harm if their legal practitioners are rendered unable to carry out their jobs due to the unacceptable and unlawful conduct of elements in society that choose to ignore the rights of other persons with impunity.”
The lawyers also cited verbal and physical abuse and sometimes arrests by State security agents.
“Arbitrary arrest and wrongful detention on unsubstantiated charges of obstructing or defeating the course of justice charges which are then not further pursued after the indignity of the arrest and detention,” read the petition.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The lawyers appealed to the Legislature, Judiciary and the Executive to intervene and create a conducive operating atmosphere for them.
Meanwhile, a coalition of human rights defenders yesterday launched a report chronicling harassment of its members, especially towards election periods.
The report, jointly produced by Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights), World Organisation Against Torture and the International Federation for Human Rights, urged government to enact legislation that guaranteed citizens’ freedoms and security.
The report was launched by the director of African Regional Programme of the International Commission of Jurists Justice Thomas Masuku.
Masuku is also a former judge of the High Courts of Swaziland and Botswana.
“It is unlikely that any meaningful and genuine reforms could emerge from the political stalemate and that in the run-up to the new elections called by Zanu PF, there are strong reasons to believe that the environment in which human rights defenders operate under is alarming and would further deteriorate,” Masuku said.
