via Chief Justice calls Mugabe to order – New Zimbabwe 10/03/2015
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has been called to order by the Chief Justice after, critics maintain, trying to “intimidate the judiciary” in the court action by former lieutenant Didymus Mutasa regarding the ruling Zanu PF party’s December 2014 congress.
In a stinging statement that is clearly aimed at the president, among others, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku warned the public against making inappropriate statements on matters under the consideration of the courts.
“The Chief Justice notes with concern the proliferation in the public media of inappropriate comments on matters pending before the courts, contrary to the time honoured and internationally accepted practice of refraining from publicly commenting on matters that are sub-judice,” Chidyausiku said Tuesday.
“The chief Justice accepts that trials of court cases of a public interest nature may be reported and commented on.
“However, such reports and comments must not seek to, or be perceived as seeking to prejudice, influence or interfere with the due administration of justice or fair trials of the matters reported on.”
The Chief Justice called upon “all to refrain from publicly commenting on matters under consideration by the courts in violation of the sub judice rule”.
He insisted that the judiciary would not be influenced by the public comments when dealing with cases brought before the courts.
“Notwithstanding the comments and reports on pending matters, the Chief Justice reassures all that matters before the courts are and will be determined in accordance with nothing other than the law,” he said
In an interview with the state broadcaster to mark his 91st birthday, Mugabe warned Mutasa against taking the dispute to the courts saying “no magistrate will listen to that nonsense.”
But Mutasa defied the veteran leader.
Supported by former Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo, Mutasa approached the High Court arguing that the December congress was unconstitutional and urging the court to declare its decisions illegal.
An incensed Mugabe then told a gathering in vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Midlands homeland that he would wait to see “which magistrate or judge will entertain the litigation”.
His remarks were roundly condemned by the opposition and pro-democracy groups who argued they were meant to intimidate the judiciary before the legal showdown.
Mugabe’s handlers, among them information minister Jonathan Moyo, leaped to the nonagenarian’s defence, arguing the president has a right to comment on the case.
Mutasa, former vice president Joice Mujuru and Gumbo lead a cast of Zanu PF stalwarts which includes almost 20 cabinet ministers who lost their powerful positions in the aftermath of the acrimonious congress.
COMMENTS
One does not need to be a genius to predict what could happen next to Justice Chidyausiku!!
I for one would not be surprised if he was to be ‘involved in an accident’ in the near future, or at the very least he can expect one ‘good reason’ or another to lose whatever piece of land or farm that he may own, because we all know that ZANU PF has zero tolerance for people who act fairly or justly i.e. if they don’t toe the party line ka.
Be careful Justice Chidyausiku. Mofana kurara makachenjera!! – Sleep with one eye open these days baba!
Chidyausiku, I hope still recalls the day in the 1970s he was led out of Parliament on the orders of Col. Hartley, Speaker then, for being improperly dressed. That was illegal civility, but not dangerous. In the same vein during the same era a certain Chief Justice Uganda was hauled from his chambers and later found lifeless.
Hey you all,those who comment on others and those who are commented,the time has come for the separation of evil deeds from this mankind and let rightiousness take reign for the good of mankind.tighten your life belts for the time is already here.those who seek real justice should wear on the armour of justice nomatter what they have gone through all the past years-its the time when evil is to be burried forever.all the corruptuon,insencerity,unjust deeds,murders,and every filthy thing in the face of god-whether done in secrety or in the open will come to an end,it begins with you.the chief justice has been tasked by god to open the gets for the desired world of justice in the just publicised issue between our former leaders in government.its upto him to exercise his best in this case because he is aware that the time for justice is at hand now,nomatter what the said concequences or nomatter who he or she is or any secrety threat-there is nothing secrety to God anyway.everyone has a roll to play to achieve a truely just world without those evil secrete thoughts..make hay while the sun shine.
if the comments of the Chief Justice are genuine and honest, and not to make zimbabweans believe that justice is democratic I would like to and independent then I would like to applaud the Chief Justice’s comments. But with Zimbabwe one would not be sure , this may be just another trick to make people think that what ever the outcome of the case especially if Zanu Pf wins was fare.
Is this a genuine “moment of” strength, as you approach the end of your term, Chief Justice…?