A Zimbabwean court rocked Zimbabwe's unity government on Tuesday by sending back to prison a group of civic and political activists charged with attempting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe.
The 18 activists, including members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), a partner in the government, had earlier been released on bail.
"Today’s ruling seriously threatens not only the life and health of the inclusive government, but its longevity and durability," the MDC said in a statement.
The ruling was made in "flagrant disregard" of agreements by the parties forming the government, the MDC added. The party said the decision signalled that "some elements" withing Mugabe's Zanu-PF party are opposed to the unity government.
On Monday, prosecutors asked the Harare Magistrate's court to revoke bail.
The MDC said the magistrate had ruled on Tuesday that because a trial date had been set in the High Court, she no longer had
jurisdiction to extend the bail.
The MDC characterizes the charges of banditry, terrorism and insurgency faced by the activists as "trumped-up".
The 18 activists include Jestina Mukoko, a human rights activists who was among a group abducted and secretly detained by state agents last year.
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Where these activists go, Tsvangirai will eventually follow. Mugabe has declared it "treason" to remove him from power by any means, even legal ones like voting against him. As president he should not have that power, but as leader of a pack of well-armed and honorless thugs masquerading as an "army," he does.
It is not so much the fault of Mugabe, as it is those who have destroyed the Constitution on his orders.
The timing of this politically motivated decision is so bad, that one can only construe it as a deliberate attempt by the zanu-pf hard cases to scupper the GNU. Why, when Minister Biti and the SADC delegation are overseas trying to loosen the purse strings for Zimbabwe, would the State (as directed by a Zanu-pf Minister) push for the re-arrest of these political opponents of Mugabe?
This case has been going on for months, the keystone cops know exactly where the activists are and yet Mugabe's so-called Justice Minister thinks that their bail should now be revoked!
There is a concerted effort by elements within zanu-pf to destroy the GNU. Are they concerned about Zuma? Are they concerned about letting the genie out of the bottle with press freedom? I don't know, but they are obviously running scared at the moment.
The timing of this politically motivated decision is so bad, that one can only construe it as a deliberate attempt by the zanu-pf hard cases to scupper the GNU. Why, when Minister Biti and the SADC delegation are overseas trying to loosen the purse strings for Zimbabwe, would the State (as directed by a Zanu-pf Minister) push for the re-arrest of these political opponents of Mugabe?
This case has been going on for months, the keystone cops know exactly where the activists are and yet Mugabe's so-called Justice Minister thinks that their bail should now be revoked!
There is a concerted effort by elements within zanu-pf to destroy the GNU. Are they concerned about Zuma? Are they concerned about letting the genie out of the bottle with press freedom? I don't know, but they are obviously running scared at the moment.
This clearly does not help the GNU and it is one of the many smearing issues to be resolved by the GNU. In many ways this is the old way of doing things. Zanu-pf has failed to prove treason cases against many Zimbabwean citizens. There is still a lot of tension in the country, especially by Mugabe loyalists who feel they are losing the battle. Mugabe must be honest about national reconcialition, this certainly does not sound like it. The pressure will be on Tsvangirai to get MDC members out of prison.
The judiciary must be overdependent on ZANU-PF thugs! Who is in control in this rotten banana republic?
How donors can respond favourably to Biti's call for aid to shore off the budget?
Criminal Mugabe must be behind all these rotten gimmicks. It's time to send him to The hague!
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