Army General defies court order

By Lance Guma
22 September 2005

The Daily Mirror reports that the Harare Magistrates Court has ordered the messenger of court to attach equipment on a farm in Goromonzi belonging to army general Constantine Chiwengwa. This comes in the wake of the army chief refusing to pay Z$6,5 million in damages arising from a traffic accident in which he was sued. It’s nearly 3 months since the order was issued but no execution of the warrant has been effected.

The General faces a further bill of 30 percent on the claim in interest charges, plus the standard court fees due in such matters. He is also liable for payment of the cost of the application by the claimant. Navista Insurance Brokers acting on behalf of the motorist, who was involved in the accident with General Chiwenga, made the application for a default judgment after he did not bother to turn up in court.

It is common behavior among ruling party officials to ignore court orders and get away with it. Judicial officers simply do not have the power to enforce warrants or judgments and those with the power to do so simply turn a blind eye to acts of defiance. The Registrar General ignored several court orders to deliver ballot boxes to the courts before the courts tactfully withdrew an arrest warrant.