Zimbabwe -- More jail time for Mugabe's rich relative

The Star via Independent Online ^ | January 14, 2004 | Basildon Peta

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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's henchmen are now getting a taste of their own medicine. Mugabe's wealthy relative, Philip Chiyangwa, was set to spend his fifth night in prison on Tuesday.

Chiyangwa, Zanu-PF chairperson of Mashonaland West, was arrested over the weekend while Mugabe was out of the country - and police have defied a High Court order that he be released.

Chiyangwa was arrested on Saturday after being implicated in a Z$61-billion (officially about R1-billion) fraud scandal. The flamboyant Chiyangwa, a black empowerment crusader, has now gone back to court in a bid to force the police to respect the High Court order.

But magistrate Sukai Tongogara ordered that he be remanded in custody until Wednesday while she considers the application. Previously, the police have defied court orders only in favour of Mugabe's enemies.

He reduced the court to a circus

Chiyangwa had initially been summoned to court - without being arrested - to answer questions that he tried to obstruct police investigations over the biggest fraud case ever in Zimbabwe.

But in the typical style of Mugabe's henchmen, he reduced the court to a circus and threatened the policeman who had raised the allegations. He openly boasted that his party was running the country and that as one of its top officials, he could do what he wanted. He refused to withdraw the remarks after being ordered by the magistrate. This embarrassed Acting President Joseph Msika, who warned that he would not tolerate corrupt politicians.

Chiyangwa was arrested, and his jail experience seems to have humbled him. In court appearances he was a shadow of his former self, and faces a plethora of charges ranging from contempt of court to his involvement in the scandal, which has led to the closure of two financial institutions in Zimbabwe.

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