Constitutional Court Must Jail Gukurahundi Perpetrators, Says Tendai Biti’s PDP

THE Constitutional Court should preside over the Gukurahundi atrocities and jail Zanu PF perpetrators of human rights abuses who have been killing and maiming innocent civilians since independence in 1980, a local opposition party has said.

“The biggest sin in Zimbabwe for years has been the culture of impunity and the blatant disrespect of the law,” said Jacob Mafume spokesman for the Tendai Biti-led People’s Democratic Part (PDP) party.

“The disrespect of the law has been defined by Zanu PF since the Gukurahundi era in the 1980s when over 20,000 people were killed.

“(As well as) during Operation Murambatsvina, in 2005, when people were displaced from their homes and the recent murder of thousands of opposition supporters by party’s militia and the state agents.”

Mafume made the remarks Thursday after the Constitutional Court sentenced prosecutor general Johannes Tomana to 30 days in jail for defying several court rulings.

Tomana refused to prosecute a case involving Telecel Zimbabwe and another in which Zanu PF legislator Munyaradzi Kereke is accused of raping a minor.

Tomana then ignored court orders to allow private prosecution of both cases.

Mafume said these are not the only cases in which Zanu PF has refused to allow the prosecution of offenders.

“Zimbabwean law reports are a true reflection of human rights abuses in the country with the perpetrators are well-known but they have not been brought to book,” said Mafume.

“Among those that have been tortured are; the human rights defender, Jestina Mukoko and Tawanda Bvumo while opposition leaders such as Tonderai Ndira have been murdered with Itai Dzamara, another human rights defender, being abducted early this year but his whereabouts still remain unknown.”

PDP says the Constitutional Court should cause for the prosecution of Zanu PF-linked officials who are accused of perpetrating violence since independence.

“Our appeal, as the PDP, is that the precedence set by the Constitutional Court should apply to all those in Zanu PF who have killed willy-nilly and those that continue to flagrantly disrespect Zimbabwe’s laws,” said Mafume.

He said Local government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who is refusing to reinstate 14 Gweru councillors who he unconstitutionally dismissed in August despite a court order directing him to do so should also be jailed.

“As the PDP, we hope the Constitutional Court ruling on Wednesday will give the drained and suffering Zimbabweans hope and belief in their Constitution and that they will soon have the capacity to determine their own destiny.” source-newzimbabwe