By Lance Guma
11 July 2005

In a clear sign of how Robert Mugabe has bullied the country's judiciary, High Court Judge Maphios Cheda withdrew from a court challenge by the informal traders in Bulawayo challenging the 'clean up' operation. The Bulawayo Upcoming Traders Association (BUTA), representing 9000 informal traders is challenging the ban on hawking by their members and wants the police to return the goods which were confiscated. Justice Cheda however had other ideas. He withdrew from the case citing pressure of work.

Legal experts predict the latest move will cause a delay in the hearing of the case. In an interview with Zimonline, Edward Manning the Regional President of the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations, accused the country's judiciary of taking a reluctant approach to the matter. He warned that traders might resort to street demonstrations to force the courts to deal with the matter urgently. Most of the traders under their council were registered and paying rates to council and so there was no justification for their being hounded out of business.