Zimbabwe -- Magistrates strike -- Abandon work in protest at brutal assault of colleague by war vets

Daily News (Zim) ^ | August 20, 2002 | Brian Mangwende in Mutare

[Clive]

MAGISTRATES and prosecutors in Manicaland yesterday abandoned work to protest against the brutal assault last week of their colleague in Chipinge by suspected war veterans. The courts in Mutare and Chipinge did not sit yesterday.

Last Friday, Walter Chikwanha, the Chipinge magistrate, was allegedly dragged out of his courtroom by suspected war veterans and assaulted at the government complex after he dismissed an application by the State to remand in custody five MDC officials.

Chikwanha’s whereabouts were still unknown by yesterday. Officials from the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs would not comment. A Chipinge court official said: “We are not open today because there is no magistrate. He was beaten up on Friday and we don’t know where he is or when he will return to work. At the moment things are at a standstill.”

Prosecutors at Mutare Magistrates’ Court who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed they were not on duty. One prosecutor said: “This is unheard of. It is a total breakdown of the rule of law in the country and we cannot be seen to condone it. How on earth can people just walk into a courtroom, drag the presiding magistrate out and assault him?”Chikwanha granted $20 000 bail each to seven people, among them five MDC officials, in a case in which they are being accused of burning two government tractors in Chipinge. A few days after their release, the five were re- arrested, but Chikwanha refused to place them in custody, saying the State had no tangible evidence to warrant their detention.

Edmund Maingire, the provincial police spokesman, said he was not aware that Chikwanha had been assaulted.

He said: “I have not heard anything of that nature. I am hearing it from you for the first time.”

Sam Kudya, the chief magistrate, was not available for comment.

Manicaland’s provincial magistrate, Hosiah Mujaya, said: “Get clearance from head office first. In future, do not waste your time phoning me without the necessary clearance.”

Soon after attacking the magistrate, the suspected ex-fighters proceeded to the law firm of Matutu, Kwirira and Associates apparently in search of Langton Mhungu, the accused’s lawyer. Mhungu said the windscreen of his car was smashed during the attack. He has fled Chipinge and sought refuge in Masvingo. “I have evacuated my family and will only go back after the police have made an undertaking to normalise the situation in Chipinge,” he said yesterday.

David Mangota, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, who is on leave, has promised to investigate the matter.

[Clive]

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[RightOnline]

Can total anarchy be far behind? How soon before Mugabe catches a bullet......or two or three or four?

[cavador]

We now bid goodbye to the last vestiges of justice in Zimbabwe.
Now there is nothing left but total Anarchy.
Mugabe no longer controls the country,-It's now run by the so-called "War veterans" (the equivalent of the "mau-mau")

[afz400]

This is exactly why the Europeans had to colonize Africa - the indigenous people are ungoverable if left to their own devices, IMHO.