Lawyers call for action as rule of law falters in Zimbabwe

International lawyers have stepped up calls for action to be taken inZimbabwe following the deterioration of the rule of law in that country.Intimidation of judges has led the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) to call on action from the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.

CLA president Dr Cyrus Das encouraged the Commonwealth secretary-general to take all appropriate steps to arrest the decline of the rule of law in Zimbabwe and ensure the safeguard of the judiciary.

The International Bar Association recently sent a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe, which included meetings with President Robert Mugabe and Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay.IBA executive director Mark Ellis said its report will consolidate the concerns of the judiciary and...

reflect the opinions of the government about why it feels it necessary to weaken the state of the judiciary.

I hope it will educate both the government and some of the population as to why it is important not to do this.Andrew Towler