of evidence, which magistrates have eventually been forced to admit.
What we find particularly galling is the fact that the magistrate refused to release them on bail because she felt that they had a case to answer – and now that same magistrate, Gloria Takundwa, declares the state had “shamelessly failed to prosecute and successively failed to provide the six with a trial date”.
On what evidence then did she base her first ruling that they had a case to answer?
Any judiciary must agree to keep people behind bars only with the greatest of reluctance. This is much more so in the case of Zimbabwe where the jails are overcrowded and filthy, disease-ridden, unable to feed prisoners properly or to offer medical attention, and where the partisan police force routinely make arbitrary arrests without a shred of evidence.
This latest outrage is nothing more than Zanu (PF) playing its games. The tragedy is that the judiciary continues to allow itself to be used as collaborators in the party’s persecution of the opposition.
People look to the courts for recourse to justice. The courts should not be part of the ruling party’s repressive machinery. If the courts want the people to take them seriously, they must take themselves seriously first.
We need a miracle
At last President Thabo Mbeki has managed to get reluctant Zanu (PF) legislators to the table with the MDC. Getting them to the talks has been a challenge in itself, but it pales into insignificance when compared with the task of making them negotiate in any sensible sense of the word.
Every recent action of the Mugabe regime has demonstrated beyond doubt its contempt for Mbeki and his talks. These actions include, among many others, the forced registration of school children as voters, the recruitment of Green Bombers as registration officers, and, for good measure, the passing of the draconian spy bill.
We need a miracle. We need the negotiators to put Zimbabwe first. We need them to agree to open up the process of negotiation and deliberation to all the stakeholders.
This is no longer simply about the MDC and/or Zanu (PF). This is about the survival of our nation.
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main MDC, said at the weekend: “The message that Zanu (PF) is sending out is loud and clear. It is simply not ready for genuine dialogue.”
We need this message to change.
Word for Today
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight. I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations… In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged until he establishes justice on earth.” Isaiah 42; 1-4.