Summary
Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe brought his despotism to a new level of sophistication last week. By allowing the nation's highest court, which he effectively controls, to acquit opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of a treason charge that could carry the death penalty, Mr. Mugabe effectively gave his thugocracy the false semblance of legitimacy and prevented a potential rebuke from South Africa. In reality, Mr. Mugabe maintains his dictatorial control of Zimbabwe, and has stepped up his repression.
The state-controlled media in Zimbabwe is predictably in concert with the Mugabe regime: "The judgment ...will go a long way in remoulding the way in which both the local and international communities regard matters of governance in Zimbabwe," Zimbabwe's Sunday Mirror commented. "How the case was handled symbolises that there are checks and balances and therefore there was no need for fear that the executive...would interfere with the justice delivery system." Clearly, this is the message Mr. Mugabe is trying to send.See the full content of this document
Extract
Zimbabwe's Judicial Abuse
Mr. Mugabe remains a brutal dictator. Amnesty International said Monday that while it welcomes Mr. Tsvangirai's acquit...
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