Judge defers ZCTU leaders’ bail case saying it’s too difficult

By Tererai Karimakwenda
May 15, 2008

Justice Ben Hlatshwayo of the High Court judge has deferred until Monday the bail ruling on the case involving the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions leaders. Their lawyer Alex Muchadehama said Secretary General Wellington Chibebe and President Lovemore Matombo are being accused of communicating falsehoods, when they allegedly told workers during May Day celebrations this year that two teachers had been murdered at Kondo School in Guruve. Both deny that they ever said this.

Muchadehama said even if they had done so, it is not a crime. The judge said the case was “too complicated” and he needed more time.

The defense lawyer said he had filed an application on Monday this week for the court to treat this case with urgency, because Secretary General Chibebe was due to write some exams this week. This was ignored.

The two leaders will now spend another weekend in police custody. It appears that the court is playing the same delay game that has been used to keep other activists and opposition officials in police custody for longer periods that is necessary. This is usually done when there is no evidence to support the state’s case. The time served becomes the penalty.