In one of the most ridiculous turn of events yet witnessed in the absurd drama called politics in Zimbabwe, the International Socialist Organisation‘s Munyaradzi Gwisai and his five co-accused (Antoinette Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Edson Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo and Welcome Zimuto) have been found guilty of conspiracy to incite public violence with a view to overthrowing the unity government.
Their sentencing is tomorrow, and the crime carries a prison term of up to ten years.
The six, and 39 others, were arrested on 19 February last year at a meeting convened by the International Socialist Organisation-Zimbabwe to discuss events in Tunisia and Egypt, and their implications for Zimbabwe. At the meeting, the group watched a video of news clips of events in Egypt, and heard a few prepared remarks from invited speakers, but actually had not even proceeded to the group discussion part of the event to even mention ideas such as public violence or overthrowing the unity government, before the meeting, which had been infiltrated, was raided by police and all participants were arrested.
On top of everything else, the notion that 45 people were gathered in Harare to discuss overthrowing the unity government – in a meeting which had been circulated via email and was open knowledge – is absurd. In an environment as repressive as Zimbabwe’s if I wanted to overthrow the government, I certainly wouldn’t announce my intentions to do so via email, nor would I invite anyone other than my closest friends into the discussion – in other words, it wouldn’t be me and my 44 acquaintances and colleagues.
To add insult to injury, the state’s case – on the back of which these 6 have been convicted – was founded solely on the testimony of the infiltrator mentioned above. This turned out to be Rodwell Chitiyo – aka Johnathan Shoko – who falsified his most basic personal information under oath, and who was exposed when the defence shared information from his Facebook page – under his real name.
One would have thought this would be enough to completely undermine both the witness and his testimony. But Magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini, who handed down the guilty verdict, clearly has his own idea of what “perjury” actually means.
In February, Gwisai and his original 44 co-accused were detained for 16 nights before 39 were released, and the charges against them dropped. Gwisai and the 5 remaining defendants spent an additional 11 nights inside and were only released on 18 March. At the time of their release, the judge observed that the State case appeared weak, there being little in the facts presented to him to suggest a plot to topple the President.
This incarceration, for doing nothing more than watching some news footage and talking about current events, was already in itself unjust and inhumane, and has left physical and psychological impacts on all 45 of the original accused and their families, as was highlighted in a number of moving testimonials including:
The idea of convicting Gwisai +5, and imprisoning them for even one more day – never mind ten years – is an act beyond reason, justice or moral decency.
Protest the verdict
If you are in Johannesburg, join the picket at the Zimbabwe embassy on Tuesday 20th March from 12 – 1pm, at 13 Boeing Street West, Bedfordview (on the opposite side of the road to East Gate shopping Mall).
If you are anywhere else, please SMS your messages of protest and rejection of the guilty verdict to:
- Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena + 263 712 801 172
- Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri + 263 712 808 290
- Police Minister Kembo Mohadi +263 712 605 424
- Security Minister Didymus Mutasa +263 712 200 532
And if you have any better ideas as to how else we can protest this flagrant subversion of justice, please let us know!
