At the Annual Congress of the Dutch Bar Association on 23 September 2011, Zimbabwean human rights Lawyer Alec Muchadehama spoke about his work in Zimbabwe with regard to the main theme of the congress; ‘Ethical dilemmas, without borders’. Muchadehama has been a member of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) in Harare since 2003, where he works defending human rights in Zimbabwe. He has defended hundreds of human rights activists, members of the opposition and civilians, often successfully. Because of his work as a lawyer Muchadehama is constantly threatened by the Mugabe regime.
Muchadehama received the L4L-Award in April 2011. During the Congress emphasis was put on the positive effects of receiving the Award on Muchadehama’s working conditions in Zimbabwe. Muchadehama: “Receiving the L4L-award was like a dream coming true, I am so grateful. The effects of receiving the award are still with me, even in present days”.
Due to receiving the Award, Muchadehama got a lot of media attention, and the human rights situation in Zimbabwe was put on the agenda. Besides the event that was organized in the Netherlands when handing out the Award, there was also an event organized on the Dutch Embassy in Zimbabwe for Muchadehama and other human rights defenders. As a consequence of this, Muchadehama again received attention of the media. Through the (international) attention ánd the fact that he received an international Award, Muchadehama has received much more respect from judges as well as from the public prosecution and the police. Muchadehama claims that not only he received more respect, but also other Human Rights Lawyers within the Zimbabwean society are treated with more respect. Also Muchadehama’s clients experience positive effects of the Awards, in the cases Muchadehama brings before the Court. Commercial clients that Muchadehama lost over the years, are slowly coming back to his office. They got confidence in Muchadehama again after he received the Award.
Phon van den Biesen, president of L4L, interviewed Alec Muchadehama about the legal practice in Zimbabwe, and what it means for a lawyer to work in times of crisis and severe oppression by the government. Discussed were the ‘law society’, the Zimbabwean Bar Organization, and the role as lawyer in Zimbabwe with regard to the Basic Principles on the role of Lawyers. The oppression and dangers for human rights lawyers in Zimbabwe continue to be severe, but Muchadehama stated he will continue his work and will not flee. Due to the fact that Muchadehama receives international attention from organizations like L4L, the risks of him being arrested have been reduced.
