News / National
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights double standards exposed
03 Aug 2016 at 08:00hrs | Views
Beatrice Mtetwa
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR have come under attacked for representing arrested war veterans leaders but turned a blind eye on Paul Siwela and John Gazi who where facing treason charges.
The lawyers, last week jumped to represent war veterans spokesperson Douglas Mahiya.
They managed to secure a $300 bail for Mahiya.
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.
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 is quoted saying.
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, & 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 & 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 & 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 & 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 Martialled??
"Talk of double standards and tribalism as existing only in ZANU PF"
The lawyers, last week jumped to represent war veterans spokesperson Douglas Mahiya.
They managed to secure a $300 bail for Mahiya.
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.
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.
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, & 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 & 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 & 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 & 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 Martialled??
"Talk of double standards and tribalism as existing only in ZANU PF"
Source - Byo24News
