Try the powerful ZimEye search:
Selected ZimEye searches:
Abductions Mukoko Morgan Tsvangirai Injuries ZAPU ZANU PF army killings
Zimbabwe’s Attorney General should step down:Lawyers
Published: October 2, 2009
Harare (ZimEye) The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) says the Attorney General should resign or publicly accept responsibility for the failure of prosecutors under his authority.
Director of the lawyers board Irene Petras told journalists at a press briefing in Harare saying ZLHR welcomes the order granted to human rights activist Jestina Mukoko by the Supreme Court on Monday.
“We are of the reasoned belief that the prosecutorial authorities in this matter failed to perform their duties and that they bear, and must accept responsibility for the manner in which this case was handled.
“In any democratic society, such untenable failures would lead to the head of the affected institution in this case the Attorney General resigning his or her position. At the very least we would expect, in a democratic society, to see such public official publicly accepting responsibility for the professional and ethical failures that prosecute on his or her behalf,” Petras said.
ZLHR call comes in the wake of the constitutional court’s order to grant permanent stay of prosecution on Mukoko’s charges of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe’s previous government last year.
The country’s Supreme Court granted the activists a permanent stay of prosecution on Monday.
Mukoko had filed a constitutional challenge in February claiming her abduction by state security agencies violated her constitutional rights.
She was abducted by state security agencies on December 3 2008 in a predawn raid at her home.
She was tortured before being handed over to the police three weeks later
ZLHR said Monday’s order was a landmark judgment in that the judiciary has put prosecutorial authorities and perpetrators of human right violations on notice.
However observers say Monday’s order could be a political move to spruce up the battered image of Mugabe’s regime.
Most Zimbabweans had lost confidence in the judiciary system which in the past had been compromised in its judgements.
Meanwhile Mukoko’s lawyer said she and eight others are suing the government for $500 million after their terror charges were dropped.
Harrison Nkomo said Thursday several officials are being sued for the abduction, wrongful arrest and torture of Mukoko and others. The legal case targets the national police commissioner, intelligence minister and several police officers.
The case was filed on Tuesday. (ZimEye,Zimbabwe)
3 Comments on "Zimbabwe’s Attorney General should step down:Lawyers"
ZimEye Latest
- No rape retrial for Zim man
- Music-Group barred from Zimbabwe for Mugabe caricature
- Mugabe required to consult PM on elections under GPA
- Nicholas Goche “to replace Mugabe” | OPINION |
- Mugabe’s sister Bridget goes into intensive care
- ZBC loses labour case against journalists
- US donates 1.5million for circumcision program
- Zanu-pf uses Chinese cotton company to sell party cards
- Angry Vapostori castigate their bishop
- Only Mugabe can order election: ZEC
- UNDP refuses to fund COPAC jingles
- Analysts predict chaos if Mugabe dies in office
- Burial of 41 bodies by cops rouses suspicions
- Zimbabwe to conduct future diamond sales in secrecy
- Lobels Bakery halts business
- High Court Judge revokes ACR licence
- Mujuru wants to adopt Chinese currency
- ‘Unshaven’ girls fight school in court
- Zuma’s expecting 22nd child
- Unity government endorsed decision to deport Zimbabweans from SA
- Tsvangirai…in the footsteps of Frederick Chiluba
- Zim Plans to evict foreigners challenged
- US breaks ranks on COPAC funding
- Akon, Sean Paul show world class
- Outrage, as Pastor claims Jesus ‘was’ HIV positive
- Tsvangirai seeks God’s help from Nigeria
- Zimbabwe’s Bread price to rise again before Christmas
- No voice-fixing-software on Gamu Nhengu
- Family buries wrong body
- New Blackburn Rovers striker: I just want to be loved
- Special deal for Zim citizens to end
- Tsvangirai reshuffles information department
- ZANU-PF deploys officials to the Apostolic sect meetings
- Zimbabwe to become world’s best diamond producer-EXPERT
- Zimbabwe’s bizarre women sperm collectors rape third man
- Tortured child sues for $1,6 million
- Majome blames Government for failing to free the airwaves
- Carer fleeced client of £300k assets
- Mugabe joy at bare breast parade
- POSA was unlawfully used on Trade Unions- Museka
jen on Fri, 2nd Oct 2009 11:38 am
my heart goes with jestina for going through such a horrible time. she must be compernsated and those responsible must be brought to justice.
Thabani Ngwenya on Sat, 3rd Oct 2009 10:42 pm
Tomana you are unprofessional and evil. Shame on you and all you stand for. All those years of getting educated so you can abuse the masses to consolidate your perks from ZANU, ka DSTv subscription ne Benz. Veduwee tisadaro. People’s lives are at stake here. One day you will face the gallows. ZANU will not live forever.
Makwaz on Tue, 6th Oct 2009 8:17 am
The mills of the Gods grind slowly but finely. Those that show no mercy or repentence to suplicants will in turn be shown no mercy or consideration. The thieves, murderers, usurpers and prostitutes will surely cry in anguish on the day of reckoning. Your monopoly on force and coercion will not prevail forever. You will be punished, the testimony of witnesses will be there and you will loose everything you thought you were gathering and you will live in the dungeons in which you thrust the innocents.