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| National |
| Lawyers urge Bingu to talk to Mugabe |
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by
Nation reporter, 04 May 2006
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04:26:28
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The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has asked President Bingu wa Mutharika to encourage the Zimbabwean government to respect the rights and freedoms, to uphold the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession.
The society made the call through a letter on President Robert Mugabe’s visit addressed to the Secretary to the President and Cabinet.
In the letter signed by the society’s president Mabvuto Hara, the legal practitioners say government should take opportunity of Mugabe’s visit to adopt a strong stance on the human rights violations in Zimbabwe.
“In December 2005, the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights expressed deep concern about the continued undermining of the independence of the judiciary and intimidation of judges in Zimbabwe. The Malawi Law Society, therefore, urges our government to express its concern at the human rights situation in Zimbabwe and to condemn in no uncertain terms, the practice of forced evictions, which rendered thousands of Zimbabweans homeless,” reads the letter.
The letter also says Mutharika should encourage the Zimbabwean government to respect the rights and freedoms set out in the African Charter and other international human rights instruments, and to uphold the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession.
It reads in part: “Our government has an obligation to act in accordance with these important principles and to speak out against their violation, especially when it decides to play host to the president of a country which is clearly infringing upon fundamental rights.”
The letter was copied to the Minister of Information, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. |
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