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ZimRights case postponed
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
July 18, 2011

The ZimRights case that was supposed to be heard today (18 July 2011) at Masvingo Magistrates Court failed to kick off following a plea by the prosecution for more time as they said the needed to tie a few loose ends before proceeding. The case has thus been postponed to 4 August 2011. The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights legal practitioners representing ZimRights had a meeting with the prosecutors in which they agree that trial should start on 4 August 2011 without fail.

ZimRights as an organization is being charged alongside its Masvingo Provincial Chairperson, Mr. Joel Hita for attempting to hold a photo exhibition chronicling the problem of political violence in recent Zimbabwean history. The organization is being represented by the National Chairperson, Mr. Kucaca Phulu. Masvingo police swooped on the exhibition in April of last year (2010) and confiscated all the photographs which, one and half years later, they still hold at Masvingo Central Police Station.

We are of the strong conviction that the police are aware that their case is too weak to secure a conviction but they are content to hold on to the photos because that way they are assured that they cripple ZimRights ability to use them for any exhibition and education programmes.

It is ridiculous for the state to be seen to struggle to come up with a case for such a flimsy issue, in the process attracting unnecessary outside attention for the wrong reasons. ZimRights continues to urge government and its institutions to take the lead in upholding the rule of law and stop abusing the justice system, persecute law-abiding individuals and organizations.

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