SADC Tribunal death 'a stab in the back for the people'

The shocking decision, which was taken at the annual summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Maputo, not only left the Tribunal in limbo but also rendered it completely toothless by denying individual access to the court.

"The decision to deny the region's inhabitants any access to the Tribunal is astounding and entirely without any lawful basis," said Nicole Fritz, Director of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC). "Civil society groups were worried that SADC leaders would conspire to weaken the Tribunal but this is far worse than we had feared. SADC has destroyed it."