DESPERATE attempts by the Zanu PF propagandist, Jonathan Moyo, to blatantly mislead the nation about Robert Mugabe’s wicked and shameful threat to the judiciary at a function in Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency last week is patently shameful and pathetic and indeed, it is grossly insulting to the intelligence of the people of Zimbabwe.
It is an indisputable fact that Mugabe’s utterances were deliberately aimed at intimidating the judiciary in the wake of the High Court application filed by Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo.
Mutasa and Gumbo are entitled to approach the courts in order to resolve whatever grievances they might have within their faction-ridden and beleaguered political party, Zanu PF.
Mugabe is the head of the executive arm of the State and as such, he has an obligation to respect the doctrine of separation of powers which underlies the very essence of a modern democracy.
Thus, Mugabe’s careless, irresponsible and reckless statement in which he literally intimidated the judiciary is not only grossly offensive, but it is in extreme bad taste and clearly unconstitutional.
At all relevant times, everyone, including Mugabe, has a constitutional obligation to respect and uphold the independence of the judiciary.
Mugabe is the first citizen of Zimbabwe in his capacity as the head of State and as such, he should not behave and conduct himself like a misguided missile.
Mugabe’s threat against the independence of the judiciary is blatantly unconstitutional and as the MDC, we condemn such an utterance in the strongest terms.
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Mugabe should not continue to behave like a bull in a china shop. As head of State, he took an oath to respect and uphold the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
He should not do anything that has the effect of undermining public confidence and trust in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
The reckless and intimidatory statement uttered by the nonagenarian is tantamount to a gross and unmitigated abuse of office as the head of State.
This statement is repugnant to the tenets of democracy.
The MDC maintains that the head of State should be the first person to defend and uphold the integrity of all public institutions; including the judiciary.
It is, therefore, odious and grossly offensive for one Moyo to shamelessly seek to mislead the country into believing that Mugabe was within his rights when he threatened the judiciary. Moyo is a master of deceit and chicanery and his record in distorting and manipulating facts is legendary.
The MDC calls upon the Zanu PF regime to respect and uphold the independence of the judiciary if at all this country is going to attract meaningful foreign direct investment.
MDC: Equal opportunities for all.
Obert Chaurura Gutu, national spokesperson for MDC
