Zimbabwe Law Society President seeks UK support
22 Oct 07
Society's report details abuses suffered by lawyers for defending rule of law
Zimbabwean lawyers seeking to uphold the rule of law in their country are looking to the profession in the UK for support this week through a visit from their President.
Beatrice Mtetwa, President of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, is to speak to an audience of lawyers and human rights activists at an event hosted by the Law Society of England & Wales on Wednesday.
Mrs Mtetwa will launch a report, "Self Regulation at a Crossroads: Attack on Lawyers and Independence of the Legal Profession in Zimbabwe", which highlights the dramatic deterioration in the rule of law and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe.
The report catalogues the systematic persecution of the legal profession through threats, surveillance, violence and torture. Most notably, on 8 May this year, Mrs Mtetwa herself was chased by riot police and severely beaten with baton sticks.
It goes on to highlight the Zimbabwean Government's attack on the independence of the legal profession in the context of a lack of accountability of the state and a complete breakdown in the rule of law. Finally, the report makes some short and long term recommendations for a return to peace, democracy and the rule of Law in Zimbabwe.
Andrew Holroyd, Law Society President of England and Wales, said: “Part of being a solicitor is a commitment to the rule of law and that must mean the rule of law around the world as well as at home. As an immigration practitioner I see only too often the terrible human impact of civic and social breakdown."
The Law Society of Zimbabwe calls upon the international community to exert pressure on the Zimbabwean Government:
- in the short term to: abide by domestic and international legal principles for the protection of the legal profession, not to compromise the independence of the legal profession or the Attorney General, not to harass or assault lawyers, prosecute those who interfere with lawyers carrying out their duties, ensure court orders are enforced by the authorities, stop searching or removing privileged files from lawyers' offices;
- in the long term to create or restore: a national dialogue and reconciliation, an environment conducive to democracy and human rights, credible independent national institutions, the independence of the judiciary, a professional police service, and a free media.
At the recent Commonwealth Law Conference in Nairobi the Society submitted a wish list of capacity-building support, including requests for books, equipment and training.