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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Index of articles on the mistreatment of the legal profession in Zimbabwe
Botswana
lawyer leads Zim probe
Mmegi
(Botswana)
May 15, 2007
Visit
the special index page on the mistreatment of the legal profession
in Zimbabwe
http://www.mmegi.bw/2007/May/Monday14/92.php
The Botswana
Law Society chairman Duma Boko is leading investigations by regional
law bodies into allegations of a crackdown on Zimbabwean lawyers.
Speaking from
Harare, Boko told Monitor that the delegation had interviewed a
number of high-ranking government officials. So far, the delegation
has grilled the Commissioner of Police, Judge President, Chief Justice
and the Minister of the Justice.
"We are
told that court orders are not being respected and lawyers are being
denied the right to see their clients," said Boko. He pointed
out that the delegation's major concern is respect for the rule
of law. "There is a serious concern about the police's high
handedness," he said. He added that there are allegations that
the police have targeted lawyers and their families. Boko revealed
that from what they have gathered so far, police brutality against
lawyers in Zimbabwe is a serious problem. The delegation he leads
is composed of representatives from law societies from Botswana,
South Africa, Namibia and Malawi. It is expected to present a report
to the SADC secretariat.
Last Tuesday,
the Zimbabwean Law Society staged a march outside the country's
High Court, to protest against failure to observe the rule of law.
However the march was dispersed violently by the police.
In another incident
outside the High Court, lawyers representing several opposition
activists were beaten up and thrown in jail.
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