Bertha Shoko
14 November 2009
LAWYERS will this Monday boycott court proceedings in protest against the increasing harassment of judicial officers. The action was prompted by the arrest of Mordecai Mahlangu of Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans.
Mahlangu was arrested a fortnight ago for allegedly obstructing the course of justice after he wrote to the Attorney General's office saying his client Peter Hitschman was not willing to testify in the Roy Bennett treason case.
Mahlangu appeared at the Harare magistrates' Court on November 5 and was remanded out of custody on US$100.
He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow Monday (16/11/09).
According to the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) executive secretary, Edward Mapara all the lawyers will converge at the Harare Magistrates' Court for Mahlangu's court hearing in their High Court regalia.
"On the same day all offices will be closed and no appearances will be made in court," said Mapara.
After the court hearing, the lawyers plan to march to the Ministry of Justice calling for an end to the harassment of lawyers and human rights defenders.
The LSZ is reportedly planning to approach the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs imploring it to investigate the harassment of judicial officers.
Lawyers representing human rights defenders have been routinely harassed by law enforcement agents who have been quick to haul them before the courts for petty offences.
In May this year lawyers defied a police ban and marched through the streets of Harare to protest against government's harassment of lawyers and journalists. Although police maintained heavy presence throughout the proceedings no one was beaten. In May 2007 similar action by the lawyers drew the ire of the police who beat up several law officers including then LSZ President Beatrice Mtetwa.
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