Former CCC Spokesperson Mkwananzi Explains How Lawfare Is Used To Wear Out Opposition Activists

Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi has warned that acquittals of opposition activists do not erase the damage caused by years of what he described as “judicial persecution.”

His comments came after human rights campaigners Robson Chere, Namatai Kwekweza and Samuel Gwenzi were cleared of disorderly conduct charges by the Harare Magistrates’ Court, ending a year-long trial widely criticised by rights groups.

Responding to an X user who suggested that such rulings show Zimbabwe’s courts are not captured by the ruling ZANU PF party, Mkwananzi argued that the justice system was still being used as a weapon against dissent.

He explained that the process of arrest, bail and prolonged trials amounted to punishment in itself. Wrote Mkwananzi:

“Let me take this opportunity to explain something very important about legal persecution. When a political activist is arrested on frivolous charges, he is taken into custody, then to court, either denied bail, in which case they’re taken to remand or granted bail and allowed to go home under very stringent conditions.

“The most piercing persecution starts when one is granted bail. To ordinary citizens, once their leader or representative is granted bail, the issue is over and the noise to free the concerned activists goes away. Yet that is when the most piercing judicial persecution begins.

“First, your passport is taken and your travel severely curtailed. You need a High Court order to grant you temporary access to your passport each time you travel and you have to turn it back immediately upon return and reapply as and when another trip arises.

“Secondly, you’re ordered to reside at the stated address and to report to a stipulated police station sometimes as much as twice a week depending on the case.

“Thirdly, you’re on for a long time of countless court appearances, sometimes just to be remanded to a further date or to spend a whole day if not a whole week at court etc. All this time all your personal errands and enterprises are disrupted.

“By the time you’re aqcuitted, you have already suffered irreparable losses and the regime knows that. That is why activists are arraigned before the courts for as long as five years only to be acquitted.

“In addition, while under the hammer, your mobilisation and contribution is limited by these conditions which is further loss to the broader movement as a whole.

“Some avtivists have lost scholarships and employment opportunities on the grounds that they have pending court cases. This form of persecution is real.”