In the cradle of justice, the criminal justice system embodies a nation’s moral compass, spearheading the enforcement of laws, protection of the public, and prevention of crimes. Its arms – the police, courts, and corrections are vested with the solemn duty of ensuring a peaceful, law-abiding society. However, in Zimbabwe, this revered establishment has morphed into a tool of repression, blatantly failing its noble mandate.
As a native of Zimbabwe and a reformed convict in the UK, I have witnessed firsthand the transcending power of justice and its potential to mould individuals into better citizens. My story, though laden with past missteps, resonates with a persistent call for justice and advocacy against corruption, a cause deeply ingrained in my roots. Yet, this noble quest faces a stern test back home where the justice system has been hijacked for political expediency.
The political undertones glaringly manifest in Zimbabwe, where the justice system, instead of being a bastion against oppression, has turned into a political weapon. Arrests and adjudications, driven by political vendettas rather than legal merits, have fostered a culture of human rights abuse. The rhetoric of justice is drowned by the cacophony of political interests, eroding the very essence of a just and free society.
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) recently denounced Zimbabwe’s egregious misuse of the offence of “subverting a constitutional government” to muzzle human rights defenders. This reprehensible practice, as echoed by Arnold Tsunga, ICJ’s Africa Director, blatantly violates the rule of law and human rights, enshrined not only in Zimbabwe’s Constitution but also in global human rights treaties.
A glaring testament to this perversion of justice is the arrest of award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and political leader Jacob Ngarivhume, whose only ‘crime’ was to expose corruption and advocate for nationwide anti-corruption protests. In contrast, former Social Welfare Minister Petronella Kagonye, facing charges from fraud to abuse of office, was promptly granted bail. Such blatant disparities underline the nefarious agenda to stifle transparency and accountability.
The prison system, instead of reforming individuals, has turned into a nightmarish realm, epitomised by the horrendous conditions at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. The facility, a haven for political detainees, exposes inmates to deplorable living conditions – a grotesque display of political vendetta. The tale of Chitungwiza MDC Member of Parliament, Jacob Sikhala, amplifies the callous indifference towards human dignity, an affront to the principle of rehabilitation central to correctional facilities.
The ZANU-PF government’s stranglehold on the justice system has perpetuated a culture of impunity, a dire legacy traced back to the 80s Gukurahundi massacre. The erosion of justice was glaring during the early 2000s’ white minority evictions from farms, a politically charged act veiled as nationalisation. The blatant disregard for constitutionalism, exemplified by the appointment of a medically unqualified Vice President as Minister, underscores the debasement of judicial independence.
Zimbabwe’s justice system, now a pawn in the hands of political elites, has deviated from its sacred duty to uphold the rule of law, protect human rights, and foster a culture of accountability. Its transformation into an apparatus of oppression not only undermines the democratic fabric of the nation but also leaves a stain on the conscience of a society yearning for justice.
The audacious tale of Zimbabwe’s justice system, commandeered for political repression, evokes a poignant call for restoration. A call to return justice to its rightful place as the guardian of society’s moral ethos and the vanguard against oppression, paving the way for a new dawn where the law reigns supreme over political machinations.
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