Obey Shava
The attack by four assailants masquerading as clients in dire need of legal representation is very unsettling. Both lawyers were in the line of duty when they were physically brutalised. This reflects that the legal fraternity is under siege, with an increase in the number of cases where lawyers have been attacked while doing their work
Both Obey Shava and Chamunorwa Chingwe are human rights lawyers who have given service and representation in cases of organised violence and torture amongst other human rights violations.
Shava and Chingwe were attacked by the “clients” who had requested to meet them out of the office urgently as one of them needed to travel out of town. The lawyers were surprised when the “clients” started attacking them. Both fell to the ground as blows and kicks relentlessly attacked them. Shava was beaten with iron bars and stones on his legs whilst Chingwe had a foot on his shoulder whilst being beaten. Chingwe managed to dislodge himself and escaped to get assistance. Shava was found fighting for his life after the assailants had escaped. Both lawyers sustained physical injuries and have since sought medical assistance.
The attack on Shava and Chingwe follows an attack on another lawyer Kudzai Kadzere who was brutally assaulted by the Police in January as he was attempting to represent members of an opposition political party who had been arrested. Kadzere sustained a fracture on his arm.
Attacks of this nature remain misplaced in modern society. The Forum reiterates that the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers Article 18 espouses that lawyers should not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as they discharge their functions. Being a legal practitioner is not a criminal offence that warrants barbaric onslaughts on the person.
It is against this concerning background that the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum strongly urges the Zimbabwean government to urgently:
- Mandate the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to investigate, bring to finality and apprehend the perpetrators in this particular case;
- Update members of the public on what became of the investigations in the Kadzere attack;
- Obligate the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of legal practitioners as the nation heads towards August 23;
- Persuade the relevant authorities and citizens to respect domestic, regional, and international law provisions on the protection of the legal profession.