Zanu PF youths burn magistrate’s property over MDC cases

By Lance Guma
23 May 2008

Zanu PF youths in Masvingo on Wednesday morning set fire to a house and car belonging to Gutu resident magistrate Musaiona Shotgame. According to the Zimbabwe Times website, property worth trillions of dollars was destroyed at the Gutu Mpandawana growth point as the rampaging youths accused Shotgame of being sympathetic towards MDC activists who had appeared before him in court. The magistrate confirmed the incident to the Zimbabwe Times, saying neighbours tried to help put out the fire but it was to no avail and they were forced to watch his car burn to a shell. He said he was now living in fear for his life.
Shotgame told the website, ‘Suspected ruling party supporters came to my house and burnt my car and other belongings. They threatened to beat me up, accusing me of being lenient to MDC activists who appeared before me.’ The magistrate denied he was a political activist, and said he was being punished for doing his job professionally. More surprising in the case is that police in Masvingo are said to have pledged to investigate the matter. Assistant Commissioner Mhekia Tanyanyiwa told the Zimbabwe Times, ‘We are going to investigate the case until the culprits are brought to book. So far no arrests have been made in connection with this case.’

The case highlights once again how the Mugabe regime has intimidated the judiciary into supporting it. Judges who were perceived to be independent were hounded out of the bench while those who passed favourable judgments were rewarded with farms and other perks.