When I read on the internet yesterday that Mugabe’s political party, ZANU PF, was to turn their backs on persons named in a civil suit by former radio broadcaster, Jestina Mukoko and others, I have to confess that I laughed out loud.

Mukoko, along with a number of other peaceful campaigners for democracy in Zimbabwe were abducted and tortured, then held in detention for a number of months under charges of recruiting bandits for training to then take on the Mugabe administration.

Apart from being held in detention, the Mugabe regime initially denied any knowledge of the abduction and then refused to obey court orders to bring the accused persons before a criminal court.

Sanity prevailed just a couple of weeks ago when the criminal courts in Zimbabwe ordered a stay of prosecution against Mukoko. It must be borne in mind that there are still at least 14 MDC activists that are being held by Mugabe’s police force, and nothing has been heard or seen of them in months.

Mukoko was finally released from custody following the court order, her passport was returned, although the bail money - in America dollars - was not returned. No reason was offered by the courts for withholding the money.

Mukoko is now suing all and every person behind her months of captivity and torture - and ZANU PF have decided not to back their people named in the case.

“A Zimbabwean official says several top officials and cronies of President Robert Mugabe being sued for torture have been renounced by the state and will not receive legal assistance.

The list of defendants includes the security and defence ministers and the police chief - all Mugabe loyalists.”

I wonder whether the abduction and subsequent holding and torture of the activists were sanctioned by the top office in the country. Mugabe’s ZANU PF party seem all too eager to wash their hands of the entire episode - and this is typical of Mugabe’s rule - by denying they had anything to do with it, it is then expected that the matter is over.

Perhaps not so in this case.

If ZANU PF has abandoned their own in their hour of need, perhaps there is something to the serious allegations against the respondents. In the event that Mukoko & Co. win the case and are awarded substantial restitution, then it will be the responsibility of the individuals to make that payment.

Not only has ZANU PF denied an affiliation with the defendants, but the party is broke anyway.

And a civil suit victory for Mukoko & Co could conceivably lead to a criminal prosecution. On paper at least - the criminal court system in Zimbabwe is under Mugabe’s thumb and he would not allow for his senior members of government to be arraigned in court.

He did it after the Gukurahundi - before anyone was charged in a criminal court. From my book “Without Honour“:

“In a decree, announced on Independence Day 1988, Mugabe announced an amnesty for all dissidents. Joshua Nkomo joined him in the call for all dissidents to lay down their arms, and all people doing so before 31 May would receive full pardons.

This was extended, not just to dissidents, but to criminals of various types serving jail terms.”

I have no doubt that Mugabe will issue a blanket amnesty for the named people in the event of intended criminal prosecution, although he has indicated that he can only declare an amnesty or pardon once the courts have exhausted their authority.

In Mugabeville, having loyalty to ZANU PF and Mugabe himself does have its privileges.

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man