In news from Africa, a group of international judges criticized the treatment of lawyers in Zimbabwe. The Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists said it was “shocked” by the extent of government abuse of the legal and judicial system.

Claire L’Heureux-Dubé of the ICJ: “The mission is disturbed that the unjustifiable harassment, detention and beating of lawyers has only increased tensions between the law society and the government. Such treatment is interfering with the proper functioning of the administration of justice, the role of lawyers and their independence, and is making it difficult for lawyers to act for clients viewed by the government as dissidents.”

Nixon Nyikadzino of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition praised the findings of the International Commission of Jurists.

Nixon Nyikadzino: “What the report is basically doing is to prove what we have always said as Zimbabweans who are concerned, that the situation back home is actually deteriorating and getting into an extent whereby we really need a quick and fast intervention, particularly through the initiative that are taking place when President Thabo Mbeki is going to negotiate.”