via SADC citizens demand regional court of justice | The Zimbabwean by Brenna Matendere
Citzens from southern Africa attending the 2013 People’s Summit have resolved to lobby regional heads of State to establish a court of justice that would take over from the disbanded SADC Tribunal which was previously based in Windhoek, Namibia.
The tribunal was disbanded in October 2012 at the behest of Zimbabwe which argued that it was not properly constituted.
It had offered the last course of redress for individuals who are locked up in disputes with their governments and would have exhausted the justice system offered in their own countries but still do not get satisfaction.
“We call upon the SADC Heads of State to establish a regional court in order to pin errant leaders in our countries who are always supported by the existing legal systems.
“The regional court would help in circumstances where citizens are frustrated by judgements made by local courts which more often than not favour existing governments,” reads part of the resolution made by the citizens which has since been drafted into a petition that will be presented before SADC incoming Chairperson, Joyce Banda, tomorrow.
The petition that has been signed by about four thousand citizens from SADC countries like Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Namibia among others, also implores the regional leaders to map a way forward on Zimbabwe’s election dispute.
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