Police ignore order to arrest Mwale over MDC deaths
By Lance Guma
13 October 2006

A state security agent who petrol bombed two MDC activists to death six years ago continues to walk the streets a free man, because police are scared to enforce a written order from the Attorney General’s office. The Zimonline website reports that Joseph Mwale could face trial for the murder of Tichaona Chiminya and Talent Mabika in the run up to the 2000 general election. The police however are ignoring the written request amid claims the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) official is being protected by senior Zanu PF politicians.

Mwale threw a petrol bomb into a car being driven by Chiminya and Mabika after ambushing their vehicle in Buhera. Although the two died because of the bombing Mwale has never faced trial despite former High Court judge James Devitte recommending this. Zimonline reports that the Attorney General’s office gave police in Manicaland province up to 6th October to hand Mwale over for prosecution but this has not happened. The website quotes the AG as saying ‘To date we have not received any information pertaining to the progress made by your office. I need to go through the docket with a view of taking up the matter with my superiors.’

Mwale instead of getting punished is reported to have actually been promoted within the spy agency. MDC officials in Manicaland have spoken several times of the many expensive and posh cars he drives, giving indicators he is well taken care of by the regime. Nelson Chamisa a spokesperson for the Tsvangirai MDC says they are not surprised by the inaction of the police. He told Newsreel, ‘violence is perpetrated and coordinated by the state and that’s why Mwale is roaming free.’ Asked whether actions by the AG’s office had given them hope of getting justice Chamisa remained doubtful saying ‘the rule of law is not the prerogative of the AG’s office,’ but has to start from the top levels of the leadership.