November 2008
1-56432-404-4
“Our Hands Are Tied”
Erosion of the Rule of Law in Zimbabwe
I. Summary............................................................................................................... 1
II. Recommendations ............................................................................................... 5
To the Future Government of Zimbabwe .............................................................. 5
To the Chief Justice ............................................................................................ 6
To the Office of the Attorney General .................................................................. 6
To the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.......................... 6
To the Southern African Development Community and the African Union ............ 6
To International Donors (including the US, UK and other EU members, etc.) ......... 7
III. Methodology...................................................................................................... 8
IV. Background.........................................................................................................9
Brief History of ZANU-PF’s Repression since 1980 ............................................... 9
Political Situation before and after the March 2008 Elections ............................ 10
Political Impasse Persists.................................................................................. 11
Establishment and Functions of the Judiciary, Prosecutors and Police ............... 11
V. A Compromised Judiciary.................................................................................... 13
VI. Magistrates and Prosecutors under Pressure .................................................... 19
Intimidation, Threats and Attacks against Magistrates ...................................... 19
Political Interference by the Office of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutors
......................................................................................................................... 21
VII. A Politicized and Partisan Police Force .............................................................24
Police Inaction when ZANU-PF and Allies are Implicated in Political Violence ..... 25
Police Persecution of MDC Leaders, Supporters and Perceived Supporters ........ 31
Police Response to Court Rulings ...................................................................... 33