Past Event

In the context of the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS) Annual Conference, the Institute of African Studies, is organizing the screening of a documentary:

“Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law”

Wednesday, May 1

8-10 pm

Tory Building, room 208

Carleton University

Professor Linda Freeman (Carleton University) will facilitate the discussion.

Beatrice Mtetwa herself will also be at the screening.

Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law documentary film features one of the bravest lawyers in Africa — Beatrice Mtetwa in Zimbabwe. In spite of beatings by police and being arrested and jailed in March of 2013, Beatrice has courageously defended in court those jailed by the Mugabe government—peace activists, journalists, opposition candidates, farmers that had their land confiscated, ordinary citizens that had the courage to speak up. Through interviews with Mtetwa and some of her defendants, the film tells the story of what happens when rulers place themselves above the law and why defense of the rule of law is a crucial step in the building of a civil society. Although Beatrice Mtetwa’s arena is Zimbabwe, her message and bravery are universal.

As Zimbabwe prepares for a presidential election in July of 2013, the filmmakers hope that the film will spark dialogue and change in the country and throughout Africa, while also bringing the story of this inspiring woman to the attention of the rest of the world.

Beatrice Mtetwa is the recipient of several international awards including: the Inamori Prize for Ethics, the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Human Rights Award from the American Bar Association Section of Litigation; Beatrice Mtetwa is the only African besides Nelson Mandela to receive the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize from France.

Lorie Conway, a Boston based filmmaker, is the producer and director of the film. In January and June, 2012, she filmed in Zimbabwe with Beatrice Mtetwa as well as in Swaziland where Beatrice grew up the eldest daughter of more than 50 children; her father had six wives. While in Zimbabwe, Conway worked with Hopewell Chin’Ono, a Zimbabwean filmmaker who is co-producer of the film. They met through the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard where they were both fellows.

The trailer for Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law can be viewed here .

Free admission (though donations are encouraged)

For more information on the conference please visit: http://carleton.ca/africanstudies/events/caas-2013/

For more information about the screening, please contact the Institute of African Studies at 613-520-2600 ext. 2220 or African_Studies@carleton.ca .
See poster.