Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Accused Of Tribalism

Published: 2016 August 03 09:59:37 (2149 Views)

THE Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have been accused of tribalism for refusing to represent exiled Mthwakazi activists Paul Siwela and John Gazi who where facing treason charges but jumping to stand for arrested war veterans leaders who are also facing similar charges.
The lawyers, last week represented war veterans spokesperson Douglas Mahiya and managed to secure a $300 bail for him.
The lawyers have also taken upon themselves to represent the associations secretary-general Victor Matemadanda, national Vice Chairperson Headman Sibanda and Hoyini Samuel Bhila, ZNLWVA's Vice Chairperson for Harare province after the two handed themselves to detectives at Harare Central Police Station's Law and Order Section.
But ZLHR defended its move with the group's chairperson Beatrice Mtetwa insisting the organisation was apolitical.
Mtetwa said her organisation was apolitical, adding that they would readily deploy lawyers from the independent stable to defend people who are apparently being persecuted for their political positions.
“We were approached by Mahiya's relatives who came to ZLHR to ask for representation, we did not go to him to say can we represent you,” Mtetwa said.
However, academic Brilliant Sigabade Mhlanga said this was a clear sign selective representation. He wrote on his Facebook wall :
"Oh, I thought the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights also knew that Paul Siwela, John Gazi and others deserved to be represented, in their treason case, without taking a clearly ‘partisan’ tribal position the way they did.
“These levels of double standards are so disgusting and nauseating.
“Honestly, these guys are prepared to represent these War Veteran thugs who for years have been terrorizing people, all for the love of money and some silly fame, and yet not prepared to represent Paul Siwela who did not even threaten to kill a fly.
“Could it have been that Siwela and others had raised a very important issue that everyone in ZANU, the Opposition and the so called 'Civil' Society considered far too dangerous and likely to shatter the foundations of their fictitious state, Zimbabwe? After all, these War Vet thugs continue to argue that they are part of a Reserve Force for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces; thus acknowledging their illicit relationship with the state dating back to the Gukurahundi period, couldn't they be Court Martialed??
"Talk of double standards and tribalism as existing only in ZANU PF”, fumed Mhlanga.

- Bulawayo24

Tags: Siwela, ZHRL, Warvets, Siwela,

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Comments

Anonymous user 2016 August 03 13:11:20

This is so true. Zlhr is also purely Shona, standing up for Shona rights whilst masquerading as standing for Zimbabwean rights. All they want is the spot light nothing more. They are not concerned about rights. After writing this i know they will accuse me of being a tribalist.that is the shona reaction when we Ndebele's talk about marginalisation and tribalism instead of addressing the real issues at hand.

Anonymous user 2016 August 03 10:26:34

And they defent rot with impunity. These guys have a tendency of representing cases that would 've been judged by the media. So that donors will see that they work so hard. There is never a right that these fly by night lawyers represent.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Accused Of Tribalism

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