Zimbabwe

Country Background

Since 2000, Zimbabwe has been engulfed in a crippling political, economic and humanitarian crisis, which has had an adverse affect on its justice system. Torture accounts for 25% of all reported human rights violations, with some 3,000 instances documented from 2001 to the present. The country’s 55 prisons are severely overcrowded, with 30% percent of the total prison population awaiting trial. Many detainees have remained in pre-trial detention for up to ten years. Human rights organisations estimate that nearly 1,000 prisoners died in Zimbabwe’s prisons in the first six months of 2009 alone.

However, a government power-sharing agreement signed in 2008 facilitated the adoption of new legislation, particularly in the field of human rights. This has created an unprecedented opportunity for effective human rights enforcement.

What we do

IBJ Fellows provide legal representation to ordinary Zimbabwean individuals accused of crimes.
IBJ conducts legal skills training for lawyers, focusing on trial advocacy, case theme and theory, and direct-and cross-examination.
IBJ coordinates a group of volunteer lawyers who provide free legal representation.

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IBJ Country Facts

Program established 2008.
Defender Resource Center operating in Harare.
Over 250 cases already handled.
5 trainings conducted with 177 legal professional participants.
1.000 rights awareness posters disseminated at courts throughout Harare.
Seven roundtable discussions with justice sector stakeholders.

Future challenges:

IBJ is in the process of a major breakthrough regarding its official status in Zimbabwe thanks to a firm commitment received from the Minister of Justice in October 2011 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with IBJ. This will greatly enhance IBJ's access to facilities and organizational recognition throughout the legal system.

In order to consolidate and sustain progress through this next phase, IBJ has defined three imperatives for its future work in Zimbabwe.

Develop a nationwide service of Defender Resource Centers to meet the country’s legal representation needs.
Continue and expand capacity building training of legal professionals.
Expand the reach of legal rights awareness campaigns to empower indigent Zimbabweans to claim their rights.