The Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) Harare Office, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), successfully hosted the 2024 National International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Court Competition from 8-11 October 2024. This prestigious event brought together law students from Zimbabwe’s five law faculties: Great Zimbabwe University, Midlands State University, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, and for the first time, Africa University. A total of 15 students participated, with the competition designed to enhance their understanding of human rights and international humanitarian law, while developing essential legal drafting and advocacy skills.
The event commenced with an intensive boot camp, where senior legal practitioners and experts provided training on IHL, advocacy, and legal drafting. On 9 October, a preliminary round followed, where the students engaged in a role-play exercise based on a hypothetical case focusing on armed conflict and environmental law. The teams, named after RWI offices (Yerevan, Phnom Penh, Lund, Harare, and Jakarta), competed fiercely, with the top two teams, Lund (Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University) and Jakarta (University of Zimbabwe), advancing to the final round held at the High Court in Harare on 11 October.
The final was judged by an esteemed panel that included Hon. Justice Mawadze, Deputy Judge President of the High Court, Dr. Patience Ndlovu from the Law Society of Zimbabwe, and Ms. Mutsa Mugangavari from ICRC. The University of Zimbabwe (Team Jakarta) emerged victorious and will represent Zimbabwe at the Regional All Africa Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2024.
Notable guests included representatives from the Embassy of Sweden, with His Excellency Mr. Per Lindgärde, Ambassador of Sweden to Zimbabwe, delivering remarks and presenting participation certificates. In his address, Ambassador Lindgärde emphasized the importance of the competition in light of current global conflicts, stressing the relevance of IHL and the law of armed conflict in contemporary warfare.
The National IHL Moot Court Competition is part of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Capacity Development Programme 2024-2026, funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe.