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Law
society says government has bred a culture of violence
Clemence Manyukwe,
The Financial Gazette (Zimbabwe)
December 20, 2006
http://www.fingaz.co.zw/story.aspx?stid=2116
PRESIDENT Robert
Mugabe's government has bred a culture of impunity that has
encouraged the torture of trade unionists and the illegal detention
of business executives, the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) said in
its annual report.
The organisation
said it had been alarmed by the President's public backing
of beatings of the unionists following a foiled demonstration in
September.
But the LSZ
also said the opposition was incompetent in the face of escalating
human
rights violations.
"The encouragement
from the President of Zimbabwe could only strengthen the culture
of impunity which is prevalent in Zimbabwe . . . instead of apologizing
to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the executive attempted
to minimize and justify the attacks," Joseph James, outgoing
president of the LSZ, said in a report released after the society's
annual general meeting on Monday.
James said that
a business community that had previously been critical of those
in opposition to the government "felt the full brunt of the
government's power" through arrests and detentions for
alleged price control violations.
"It is
clear that these exercises by the police are unnecessary, uncalled
for and are encouraged by the pervasive culture of impunity,"
said the report.
The report criticised
a series of new repressive legislation tabled in Parliament this
year, such as the Interception of Communications Bill, the Suppression
of Terrorism Bill - which was withdrawn - the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act and the Gazetted Law (Consequential
Provisions) Act.
The LSZ said
only an independent judiciary could now protect citizens:
"In Zimbabwe the opposition is ineffectual, and the legislature
is an extension of the executive. It is therefore especially important
that a strong and independent judiciary protects the ordinary citizen."
On a rare positive
note, the society praised judge president Rita Makarau "for
making a positive and public effort to improve the administrative
system."
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