The height of hypocrisy

It appears there is one law for Zanu (PF) and another for everybody else. Zanu (PF) has been at the forefront of attacking judges in the past. The chorus has been led by no other that President Robert Mugabe himself who has used rather colourful and intemperate language in describing some judges.

Not only has he demanded that judges resign, he has also insulted them, refused to obey court orders. When a warrant for the arrest of justice minister Patrick Chinamasa was issued, for contempt of court (which Chinamasa simply ignored) the judge ended up being locked up with criminals in the filthy Matapi police cells in Mbare.

Former information minister, Jonathan Moyo, who has been leading the campaign to have Tsvangirai arrested, has himself had a go at the judges, calling one of them a night judge who was dispensing night justice.

We have not forgotten the television pictures of Hitler Hunzvis war veterans dancing on Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausikus desk during the commission of enquiry into the looting of the war veterans compensation fund. The Chief Justice had to beat an undignified, hasty retreat from the court room. The war vets sang and danced and drank his water while the police stood by and watched. Not a single arrest was made.

It is common knowledge that judges in Zimbabwe have been forced by Zanu (PF) to resign for passing judgements considered to be unfavourable to the party. They have been denounced in the media. Two were locked up and one fled the country after passing judgements unfavourable to Zanu (PF).

For all intents and purposes most Zimbabwean judges have been rendered impotent by a combination of intimidation and patronage at the hands of Zanu (PF). Several magistrates have been known to pretend to be ill when a case involving a Zanu (PF) is set before them. They are terrified of having to try the case.

If Tsvangirai is arrested it will be a triumph for the hawks in Zanu (PF) particularly those in the Joint Operations Command who want the inclusive government to collapse. They want MDC to pull out so that they cant be blamed for destroying it which of course they have done.

The reasons for this are very clear. They now have access to eye-watering wealth in the form of the Marange diamonds. They dont want any further scrutiny when it comes to the rampant corruption that taints every sector of government and keeps them ensconced in wealth and power while everyone else is condemned to poverty.