ZIMBABWE is now a full-blown dictatorship where the State openly interferes with judicial processes to silence dissenting voices, with the ruling party boasting of having a hand in the arrest of opposition activists, analysts have said.
Zanu PF national spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa on Monday told journalists that opposition activists, who were detained in the lead-up to the 44th Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Heads of State and Government Summit, may now be released.
Mutsvangwa’s remarks come after more than 160 activists were arrested on allegations of plotting to protest and disrupt the summit, which was hosted by Zimbabwe.
The arrests drew criticism from human rights groups and opposition parties, which accused the government of using the summit as a pretext to stifle dissent.
Opposition and civil rights organisations yesterday roundly condemned Mutsvangwa’s statement saying it was a blatant disregard of judicial independence.
“It confirms what we have always stated that there is a conflation between the Executive and the Judiciary.
“The weaponisation and abuse of the law for Zanu PF political ends is now disgusting and embarrassing for the Judiciary,” said Citizens Coalition for Change spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi.
“Who is Mutsvangwa and what official judicial authority does he hold to determine the detention and release of the accused persons? I think he should apologise and withdraw his ill-concieved statement.
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“It’s disrespect to the Judiciary and the people of Zimbabwe and an abdication of our Constitution.”
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition executive director Blessing Vava said it was sad that fathers and mothers who did not commit any crime were languishing in prison.
“It’s sad and unfortunate that these people are not supposed to be in detention. This gives answers to the disturbing trend where we have seen courts giving dubious judgments,” he said.
“It shows that the ruling Zanu PF has captured the courts and there is no longer judicial independent in the country.”
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights executive director Roselyn Hanzi said Zanu PF could be cited in court proceedings over the arrest of activists.
“While he is saying it in a jovial mood, he should not cry foul if his party is cited as a party to legal proceedings to claim for various damages monetary awards such as for malicious prosecution, loss of income, pain and suffering (caused by various kinds of torture) and being jointly and severally liable with State institutions and actors involved. Respect independence of courts and doctrine of separation of powers,” she said.
The Zimbabwe Democracy Institute said: “The government’s glaring defiance of the two foundations of society constitutional norms and culture has cast a dark shadow over the country’s public posture, its culture, and its democratic aspirations.
“The Zimbabwe Democracy Institute’s argument is that the crackdown is a political legitimacy deficiency syndrome, the symptoms of later stages of a decaying social contract upon which the very existence of government and consequently the State, lies.”
