Zimbabwe’s Judiciary heavily compromised

By Tichaona Sibanda
17 October 2005

High Court Judge Maphios Cheda on Monday admitted in Bulawayo that there was unfairness and the use of food as a campaign weapon by Zanu (PF) during the March Parliamentary elections.

He said this practice was a violation of the electoral laws in the country and urged the government to investigate the charges. Judge Cheda however stunned everyone when he dismissed with costs an MDC election petition to nullify the Bubi Mguza constituency results because of violence against opposition supporters.

Jacob Thabane, the MDC parliamentary candidate for Bubi-Mguza constituency, blasted Judge Cheda and asked if anyone not from Zanu (PF) was ever going to win a court case in the country.

The hotly contested seat in Matebeleland North went to government minister Obert Mpofu, after an orgy of violence by his supporters left opposition supporters frozen with fear.

Thabane’s rural home was razed to the ground by Zanu (PF) thugs. But the Judge exonerated Mpofu by saying all the disturbances did not influence the outcome of the election.

Themba Nkosi our correspondent in Bulawayo said despite Judge Cheda acknowledging the high level of intimidation as well as violence and the use of food to campaign for the ruling party, he still dismissed the MDC petition.

‘In his judgement, the High Court Judge told the court that village heads withheld food from MDC supporters. He admitted as well that the use of food to campaign for the ruling party was a violation of electoral laws, but still went on to declare that Obert Mpofu won the election fairly.’