15. On 13 December 2004, the Secretariat informed both parties that the Commission had been seized of the communication and requested them to submit arguments on admissibility within three months from the date of notification. 16. On 28 February 2005 the Secretariat having not received the submissions on admissibility from both parties reminded them to submit their arguments by 13 March 2005. 17. On 8 March 2005, the Republic of Zimbabwe wrote to the Secretariat of the African Commission requesting the Commission to indulge the State on the grounds that it had not yet completed preparing its arguments on admissibility on the communication. The State thus sought a postponement of the communication to the 38th Ordinary Session. 18. On 15 March 2005, the Secretariat received a submission of amicus curiae brief on the communication from the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa on behalf of the Clinical Advocacy Project, Human Rights Program of Harvard University. 19. On 17 March 2005, the Secretariat received the Complainant's submissions on admissibility in which he prayed the African Commission to declare the communication admissible. 20. On 18 March 2005, the Secretariat wrote to the State Party, noting that it still had some ample time to submit arguments on admissibility on the communication and extended the date the State should make its submission on admissibility by thirty days. It required the State to make its submissions by April 18 2005. 21. By Note Verbale of 21 March 2005, the Secretariat transmitted the Complainant's arguments on admissibility including the amicus curiae brief to the State. This was sent by DHL. 22. At its 37th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, the African Commission deferred consideration on admissibility of the communication pending the Respondent State's submission of its arguments. 23. By Note Verbale of 24 May 2005, the Respondent State was notified of the Commission's decision and requested to submit its arguments within three months of the notification. By letter of the same date, the Complainant was notified of the Commission's decision. 24. By Note Verbale of 2 September 2005, the Respondent State was reminded to send its arguments of admissibility of the communication. 25. By Note Verbale of 18 October 2005, the Respondent State was reminded to send its arguments of admissibility of the communication before 31 October 2005. 26. On 1 November 2005, the Secretariat received a Note Verbale from the Respondent State indicating that the latter's submissions with regards to six communications brought against it were ready for submission but due to logistical problems beyond its control, the transmission of the submissions had been slightly delayed. 27. At its 38th Ordinary Session held from 21st November to 5th December 2005, in Banjul, The Gambia, the African Commission heard oral submissions from the parties in respect of admissibility of the communication and decided to defer further consideration thereof to the 39th Ordinary Session. 28. By Note Verbale and a letter dated 15th December 2005, the Respondent State and the Complainant were respectively notified of the African Commission's decision. 29. At its 39th Ordinary Session held from 11 to 25 May 2006 in Banjul, The Gambia, the African Commission considered the Communication and decided to defer further consideration on the admissibility to is 40th Ordinary session. 30. By Note Verbale and by letter dated 31 May 2006, the decision of the Commission was sent to both parties. 31. At its 40th Ordinary Session held from 13 to 30 November 2006 in Banjul, The Gambia, after a lengthy deliberation, it was agreed that the Communication be deferred to the 41st Session to give Commissioners more time to study the legal arguments closely. 32. By Note Verbale and by letter dated 10 February 2007, both parties were duly informed of the Commission's decision to defer the communication to the 41st Ordinary Session to be held in Accra, Ghana from 16 to 30 May 2007. 33. By Note Verbale and by letter dated 20 June 2007, both parties were duly informed that at the 41st Ordinary Session held in Accra, Ghana, from 16 to 30 May 2007, the African Commission considered the above mentioned communication and declared it admissible. 34. On 7 November 2007, the Complainant submitted its arguments on the Merits. The Respondent State is yet to submit on the Merits. The Secretariat is yet to study the submission and give a copy to the Respondent State. 2