Lorie Conway of Boston Film and Video, who directed the documentary written by Hopewell Chin’ono, said “Beatrice Mtetwa and The Rule of Law in Zimbabwe” was meant to appraise the world of the breakdown of the rule of law, largely caused by President Robert Mugabe’s side of the unity government.
“We want to use the documentary as an advocacy tool for the restoration of the rule of law in the country,” said Conway. “We want to provoke discussions and raise awareness on the state of affairs in Zimbabwe in as far as the rule of law is concerned and we have used Beatrice as the vehicle of hope and change not only in Zimbabwe, but beyond because this film is suitable for the whole world. Through Mtetwa’s efforts, there has been awareness on the plight of Zimbabweans who have suffered under the state’s heavy-handedness.” The film, whose trailer can be viewed on www.ruleoflawfilmproject.com, captures Mtetwa’s life as a young girl in her country of birth, Swaziland, where she showed early signs of what she would later become, traces her path to Zimbabwe, where she relocated to after her Zimbabwean-born husband decided to go back home.
Initially working as a state prosecutor, Mtetwa later left the field to defend those that had been unfairly arrested, some of whom had been brutalised in the process. “There came a time when I decided that I could not be part of the system anymore because I did not like what was happening,” said Mtetwa.
“Many things were happening that pushed me out of the system to fight from the other side. While excited that the film has been made, I still remain aware that far from being a personal achievement for me, I have just been used as an advocacy tool for the great fight to raise awareness on the breakdown of the rule of law in Zimbabwe and the need to raise hope for a better future for the whole world.”
The film replays some of the main events in Mtetwa’s life, including when she defended MDC supporters who had been brutalised by the state, journalist Gift Phiri during his time with The Zimbabwean and British journalist, Andrew Meldrum when he was arrested and later deported from Zimbabwe.
Mtetwa’s battle with Zimbabwean authorities during her course to promote the rule of law and to defend political activists, journalists and opposition politicians wrongly accused, arrested and detained by the state’s increasingly repressive and untouchable security services has gone on for about three decades.
“One of Zimbabwe’s most renowned and courageous human rights lawyers, Beatrice herself was arrested in March as part of a crackdown on civil society activists and human rights defenders,” reads a statement on the documentary, filmed in secret and which documents her remarkable work and analyses what has become of the rule of law in President Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.
It was shown for the first time in Johannesburg late last week.
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