Having just completed the daily posting on my main page, “The Bearded Man“, I was struck by the number of cases before the courts in Zimbabwe that have political connotations.

As a former police public prosecutor in the Zimbabwe Republic Police, I take a special interest in the courts in Zimbabwe, but find that the criminal hearings are pushed to the back of the queue - unless it involves a senior public figure, almost invariably a politician.

Today, headlines were all about the Roy Bennett case that was due to kick off in Mutare yesterday. Reports had indicated that the State was looking at handing the indictment to Bennett and applying for his case to be transferred to the High Court in Harare, which would have required his being held in custody until sometime in February next year.

We all waited for the news to come out of Zimbabwe, and, as we expected, it was something different.

The prosecutor didn’t pitch up for seven hours! This sort of contempt should really be punished, but, as per most things political in Zimbabwe, nothing happened.

The court in Mutare is due to make a ruling on the State application today.

Another case that has been making the headlines is the trial of yet another MDC deputy minister who is alleged to have stolen a cell phone (we call them ‘mobiles’ here in the UK) from the self-styled war veterans’ leader, Joseph Chinotimba.

“Since the day I was arrested up to today, I am sure you have noticed how my case has divided the nation because of the politics and lies that have been peddled by the complainant (Cde Chinotimba).

“Despite all the efforts that are being done by our President and the other principals to heal this country, I have noticed through what has been said by the complainant that there are some people who do not want to see the inclusive Government work,” said Thamsanqa Mahlangu.

The handset in question is probably worth less than US$50 on the open market, but Chinotimba has lodged a civil suit against Mahlangu for a loss of earnings whilst the mobile was out of his possession - valued at US$19.5 million!

Another case that is before the courts shortly, is the civil claim by Jestina Mukoko and others for the imprisonment and torture by the police for months on end - and during that time, the State and the ZRP continually defied court orders to produce the claimants.

Once again, the State’s case is brimming with conspiracy theories, supposition, assumption and unsubstantiated allegations. After almost a year of legal wrangles, the court finally ordered a stay of prosecution - although this did not stop the State from failing to return her bail money - paid in foreign currency, so no doubt ‘absorbed’ by the system…

The courts are also continually having to make rulings about land seizures. Instead of dealing with your standard criminal fraternity, the courts are hearing cases about farmers remaining on their land ‘illegally’. (As an aside, what can be illegal about remaining on land - especially when, in some cases, the land was purchased since 1980 after Mugabe’s government declared ‘no interest’ in the land?)

Surely someone should realign the courts so that political cases do not take precedence over other cases. Criminal cases that involve normal people are no less important than those involving politicians.

It should be remembered that politicians are servants of the people - not the other way round…

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man