A LAWYER with the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Darlington Marange has scooped the 2022 law Society of Zimbabwe young lawyer of the year award.
The annual award is sponsored by Scanlen and Holderness Legal Practitioners and is given to an outstanding young human rights lawyer under 35 years of age.
The lawyer would have demonstrated courage in handling human rights work and consistently work towards promoting and protecting human rights in Zimbabwe.
Marange is a public interest litigation specialist at the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.
Throughout the year, he has fearlessly protected victims of organised torture and is currently representing victims of the 1 August 2018 violence who were shot by the soldiers in Harare central business district. Several victims are currently before the High Court demanding compensation.
Marange is the lawyer who last month secured the first bail for Felix Biri, one of the 16 CCC activists arrested over the 14 June Nyatsime violence,. Biri had languished in remand prison alongside 15 other co-accused including MPs Godfrey Sithole and Job Sikhala.
Only Zengeza MP Job Sikhala is still in remand prison after Sithole was freed last Friday with the other opposition activists granted bail today.
Marange is the one who successfully stopped the use of spikes by the police on moving vehicles, a move that had caused unnecessary loss of lives.
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He litigated before the High Court and the Supreme Court and engaged the police to end the use of spikes. Marange also provided legal support to various victims of this dangerous practice by the police. This resulted in the police abandoning this practice in May this year.
This year, Marange successfully, obtained a judgment in the case of Nyasha Chiramba v Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs & Anor HH-584-22, to compel the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to craft the code of conduct for Vice-Presidents, Cabinet ministers and their deputies.
This case was filed after scandalous allegations of sexual abuse of women by former Vice-President Kembo Mohadi. This code of conduct will spell out acts of misconduct from these powerful officials and ensures accountability for such officials in cases of misconduct.
In his acceptance speech, Marange said he was humbled by the recognition he received.
“I am earnestly grateful for the recognition I have received for my work because I am very sure that every other nominee for this award was as capable if not more, of winning this award,” Marange said#.
“I want to thank the Law Society of Zimbabwe and the Scanlen and Holderness Legal Practitioners for recognising my work.
“Winning this award would not have been possible without the inspiration I have received from my seniors and my colleagues, for whom I have the deepest respect, and from whom I have derived the strength to challenge myself and perform better at each stage. I sincerely thank the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum for giving me this opportunity to shine.”
