The suspected security agents seized a total of nine confidential and highly
privileged sets of documents which are case files of communications and
complaints set to be argued by a ZLHR legal team against the Government of
Zimbabwe in matters which the same government is fully alive to and hence
there is no need for the confiscation of these documents. Also taken were
soft copies of other pre and post election reports. These unknown security
personnel harassed Mr Chimbga, meticulously noting down his personal profile
and business details. They advised Mr Chimbga that they were going to ‘deal
with him when he returns to Zimbabwe.’ Such a statement by these unknown
agents is tantamount to intimidation and a direct threat to his security.
ZLHR condemns in the strongest of terms this heavy handed and arbitrary
behaviour by state security agents especially as it relates to a legal
professional going about his business. It is also important to state that in
the view of ZLHR these are clear attempts and indeed constitute clear acts
of state agents seeking to subvert or otherwise obstruct the lawful course
of justice.
In the premises the State is called upon to ensure the timeous return of the
case files to ZLHR and or Mr Chimbga and in any event no later than the
dates on which the matters are set to be argued.
ZLHR further calls for the urgent intervention of the African Commission on
Human and People’s Rights to ensure that the Government of Zimbabwe and
through its agents are not allowed to undermine the authority and sanctity
of the African human rights protection and promotion mechanisms.
Post published in: News