Joint statement calling for greater protection of human rights lawyers in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

In a joint statement, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L) have welcomed the decision of the Zimbabwean authorities to drop charges brought against two human rights lawyers, Douglas Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi. This follows calls to do so in a previous joint statement, in which the organisations expressed ongoing concern at the challenges faced by human rights lawyers in Zimbabwe, including those who are increasingly being targeted by the country’s authorities for their involvement in electoral cases.

Human rights lawyers Douglas Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi, and other lawyers associated with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), were initially arrested for allegedly obstructing justice while representing their clients, who had been abducted and tortured by state agents. However, the National Prosecution Authority withdrew the charges on January 26, 2024, citing insufficient evidence.

While recognizing this as a positive step, IBAHRI and L4L remain concerned about the ongoing pressure faced by legal professionals in Zimbabwe. Recent incidents, such as the harassment of human rights lawyer Harrison Nkomo, underscore the challenges faced by lawyers in carrying out their duties independently. Nkomo was reportedly denied entry to a courtroom by police officers while waiting to represent his client, highlighting the threats faced by legal practitioners.

These incidents have drawn international attention, with United Nations Special Rapporteurs expressing alarm at the pattern of abuses against lawyers and human rights defenders, particularly in the context of elections. IBAHRI and L4L stress the importance of protecting the rights of lawyers. 

The aforementioned organisations call on Zimbabwean authorities to:

• promptly and adequately investigate the harassment and hindrance of Mr Nkomo to ensure accountability for police abuses perpetrated against lawyers;
• immediately take action to ensure the safety and physical integrity of Mr Nkomo, including the provision of effective protection measures to guarantee that lawyers are able to carry out their legitimate professional activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions; and
• refrain from actions that may constitute harassment, persecution, or undue interference in the work of lawyers in Zimbabwe, including their criminal prosecution on improper grounds such as the nature of cases in which the lawyer is involved.

Click here to read the full statement.