Low attendance fears drive CLA conference from Zimbabwe

Political unrest in Zimbabwe has forced the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) to take an unprecedented step and move its 13th conference to Australia.

The decision was made amid fears that the African-based conference would be an economic failure owing to low attendance rates.

Although the Zimbabwean conference was scheduled for 2001, Australia has indicated that a pre-existing heavy conference schedule would now mean it would have to be put back to 2002 or Easter 2003.

Zimbabwe is now due to hold the 14th conference in 2005, which Australia was to host.

George Okello, the CLA's executive secretary, said the association's council had decided'primarily for economic reasons' not to go to Zimbabwe.

The early indications were that attendance would fall 'far, far below' normal attendance rates, he explained.

Sue Allen