A group of human rights activists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Zimbabwe has rallied behind lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa after she was barred from representing an investigative journalist in detention.

Development Diaries reports that a Zimbabwean magistrate had barred Mtetwa from representing Hopewell Chin’ono and ordered that she be prosecuted for allegedly making public statements about the rule of law in the country.

It was learnt that prosecutors in Chin’ono’s bail case had asked the magistrate to order Mtetwa to step down, arguing that she had posted on a Facebook page called ‘Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law’ proceedings that were held in camera.

The allegedly offensive posts called on the international community to speak out against Chin’ono’s imprisonment.

The court also ordered the country’s prosecutor general to consider instituting proceedings of contempt of court against Mtetwa.

‘We note that Beatrice Mtetwa testified before the court that she has no control over the said Facebook page and therefore, did not author or authorise the said publications’, the group said in a statement.

‘She is not listed as an administrator of the said Facebook page. We strongly believe that, even if a lawyer were to make the statements that Beatrice Mtetwa is alleged to have made, such statements are protected under the right to freedom of expression.

‘This right is guaranteed in section 61 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, article 19 (2) of the International Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 9(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter)’.

The group said that by disqualifying Mtetwa, the court had undermined Chin’ono’s right to legal representation, guaranteed in the Zimbabwean constitution and African Charter.

The rights activists called on the Zimbabwean authorities to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of everyone, including Mtetwa’s right to freedom of expression and to practice her profession.

The organisations that signed the statement included the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum, African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, Amalgamated Rural Teacher’s Union of Zimbabwe, and Amnesty International.

Others were Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement, Centre for Democracy and Development (Mozambique), Defenders Coalition Kenya, Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Coalition, Human Rights Institute of South Africa, Human Rights Watch, SADC Lawyers Association, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, and Zimbabwe National Students Union.

Chin’ono was arrested after he published a report alleging corruption in the Zimbabwean government.

It is understood that scores of campaigners and protesters have been arrested in an expansive clampdown in the country.

Source: IOL