Another week in Zimbabwean politics and the goalposts seem to have been moved once again.

One thing is very apparent. Mugabe has no intention of sharing power with the MDC and will do anything and everything - no matter how audacious - to ensure that any power under MDC control is limited, overseen and parried.

“Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday called on all institutions in the country to uphold the rule of law and respect individual human rights, saying this is the only way that will allow aid to flow into Zimbabwe.

He said by working together to promote freedoms at home and ensuring that they abide by the international treaties and conventions that they have ratified as a country, “this would lead to our acceptance by the international community as a country and as individuals in the family of nations.”

And, as a background to this call, we are aware that Mugabe has played with the freedom of numerous people who are accused of some of the most fabricated crimes in the country.

As I wrote on my main page, “The Bearded Man”, I waited on Wednesday evening for news that Roy Bennett - the Deputy Minister for Agriculture designate - had been released on bail.

It didn’t happen - and now is for determination once again in the courts today.

Bennett is charged with a number of crimes including firearms offences and banditry. These crimes allegedly took place in 2006.

The State prosecutors asked that the bail application, which had been successful, be deferred to allow investigators to complete their case.

My query is that the alleged crime took place three years ago. Have the State not completed concocting their case against Bennett? How much more time do they need?

I also read that Bennett’s passport has disappeared with a senior police officer - and would be required to be surrendered as part of any bail conditions. Will the court accept that the document is being held by the police, or will they leave Bennett in custody until such time as the document is found?

In his maiden speech in Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Tsvangirai stated: “Brutal suppression, wanton arrests and political persecution impeded our ability to rebuild our economy. Those who continue to perpetuate the culture of impunity are sabotaging the chances of all Zimbabweans to move towards prosperity and freedom from hunger and poverty.’

Political analyst Isaac Dziya said that the remarks were aimed at the hardliners in ZANU PF who have long governed with impunity. He said without the rule of law no country will be prepared to part with its cash and help a country that oppresses its people.”

Even as far back as the early 1980’s - when I wore the uniform of the ZRP and represented the State in criminal courts - Mugabe was fast realising that he could push the envelope and that no one was about to stop him - a problem which we find ourselves facing today.

Mugabe has been allowed to get away with so much in the past 29 years that he believes he is above the law. No! He believes that he is the law…

Mugabe’s problem is not how much can he get away with, but for how long?

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man