JUSTICE IN ZIMBABWE 20 ____________________________________________________________________ ▪ that the perpetrators of the brutal attacks in Chipinge are brought to book. ▪ that, where necessary, judicial officers are given full and adequate security. ▪ that the Courts are able to carry out their duties fairly and impartially, as the law requires of them, and ▪ that the decisions of the Courts will be implemented fully and without equivocation.” The Law Society of Zimbabwe also issued a statement imploring the government to take urgent action to protect judicial officers and restore public confidence in the administration of justice in Chipinge. The plea has fallen on deaf ears. Neither the President nor any of his Ministers have seen fit to censure these outrageous attacks on magistrates, and their silence has undoubtedly encouraged the perpetrators to believe they are immune from prosecution and further diminished public respect for the judiciary. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of the Judiciary condemned the attack on the magistrate and legal practitioner. He said: “The provision of adequate protection to judges and lawyers when their safety is threatened is a basic prerequisite for safeguarding the rule of law. This is simply fundamental, in order to guarantee the right to a fair trial by an independent and impa rtial tribunal and the protection of human rights. The apparent failure to do so in this case represents a serious threat to the independent judicial system in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, this represents another example of the government of Zimbabwe’s continuing disregard for the independence of the judiciary and contempt for the rule of law.”26 Just over a week after the attack on the Chipinge magistrate, on 26 August 2002 Mr Godfrey Gwaka, the magistrate for Zaka district, Masvingo province, was stabbed at Zaka petrol station. It was suspected that this attack was related to recent judgments handed down by the magistrate. However, the police have said that this attack was not politically inspired. In a statement issued on 2 September 2002 Amnesty International stated: “The attacks on the magistrates reflect on-going attempts on the part of government authorities and