Fortunately for me, whilst Zimbabwe’s political repression remains a constant, nothing in the GNU explicitly removes from me my right to speak about injustice or protest actions of our elected government – including our courts.

Noone is infallible, and even the most competent court in the world can make wrong judgements – hence, as you point out, the need for an appeal process.

Surely then nothing stops one from voicing an opinion – either separately or in addition to entering a formal legal appeal process?

And I would particularly question the competence of the court in this case. In the early days of the trial, it seemed clear from the judges themselves that they believed there was no case to answer, and that the six would not be convicted. But a piece in the Herald last week advocated for conviction, and urged the courts to not be lenient – and clearly, the weren’t. All of this makes it hard to believe that the court in this instance acted impartially. Rather, it seems more likely that an example was to be made of the Gwisai case, to further intimidate Zimbabweans and discourage them from any form of protest in the coming months or years of Constitutional reform and / or parliamentary and presidential elections.

Finally, if the court is so competent and rejecting their ruling is against the GNU, why has the MDC itself condemned the ruling? http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/human-rights/57136/mdc-condemns-conviction-of-6.html?utm_source=thezim&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=listarticle&utm_content=headinglink

That is a good point about Theresa Makone’s mobile number – unfortunately I don’t have it,but if you do please do send it on so I can include her next time!