Archive for the “Human Rights” category
Mtetwa remand hearing postponed
by Violet Gonda on April 3, 2013
By Violet Gonda 3 April 2013 Human Rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa’s remand hearing has been postponed to April 8th after the state failed to furnish the defence with the papers regarding the charges she is facing and a trial date. Mtetwa was arrested last month during a raid on the MDC-T offices in Harare and [...]
Mtetwa remanded in police custody until April
by Violet Gonda on March 20, 2013
By Violet Gonda 20 March 2013 Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has again been denied bail and will remain in custody until April 3rd. Four MDC-T officials, including Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s legal advisor Thabani Mpofu, who were arrested at the same time as Mtetwa, have also been remanded in custody to next month. Harare provincial [...]
Zuma accused of ‘allowing’ destruction of human rights court
by Alex Bell on March 4, 2013
By Alex Bell 4 March 2013 South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has been accused of ‘allowing’ the destruction of the regional human rights Tribunal, by “selfishly” standing by while it was shut down. The former Chief Justice of the SADC Tribunal, Judge Ariranga Pillay, told a seminar in South Africa last week that Zuma, as [...]
UN Rapporteurs urge Zim government to respect human rights
by admin on February 28, 2013
Staff reporter 28th February 2013 Three independent human rights experts have expressed alarm that the increase in attacks against civil society in Zimbabwe coincided with the announcement that March 16th was the date for the referendum on the constitution. The three are United Nations Special Rapporteurs and they have urged Zimbabwe’s government to respect international [...]
Outrage over Mudenda’s appointment as Human Rights chairperson
by Tichaona Sibanda on February 20, 2013
By Tichaona Sibanda 19 February 2013 The appointment of Jacob Mudenda as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has been followed by a barrage of criticism directed towards the principals in the GPA. Mudenda is a former ZANU PF governor for Matabeleland North and served in that capacity during the period when over 20,000 [...]
Human rights sidelined in EU deal on Zim diamonds
by Alex Bell on February 20, 2013
By Alex Bell 20 February 2013 A ‘deal’ struck between Belgium and the UK over Zimbabwe’s diamonds could see human rights in the country being sidelined, with Europe planning to lift a Zim diamond blacklist after elections. The details of this deal emerged after a meeting of European Union (EU) diplomats in Brussels on Monday, [...]
Crackdown on civic groups continues as police raid ZESN offices
by Violet Gonda on February 19, 2013
By Violet Gonda 19 February 2013 Police have been criticized for intensifying their crackdown on civil society organizations, after the latest raid on the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) offices in Harare. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights director Irene Petras, who is also vice chairperson of ZESN, said officers raided the offices on Tuesday looking [...]
Machisa breaks down in court after fourth bail hearing postponment
by Violet Gonda on January 25, 2013
By Violet Gonda 25 January 2013 ZimRights head Okay Machisa broke down in court on Friday due to “inordinate delays” in determining his bail application, according to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). Machisa cried in court after High Court Judge Felistas Chatukuta postponed the bail application again to Monday, saying she had still [...]
