A new report has come out that reveals what many Zimbabweans already feel: the country’s justice system is not fair. According to human rights lawyers Justice Alfred Mavedzenge and Musa Kika, Zimbabwe’s courts are now acting more like tools of politics than places of law. Their report, published by the Journal of Democracy Governance and Human Rights, shows how bail decisions are being made not by justice, but by politics—especially who you know and which party you support.
The problem is not just that some people get bail and others don’t. It is that Zanu PF supporters and government-connected people get bail quickly—even when they are charged with serious crimes—while opposition members, activists, and ordinary citizens can be locked up for months just for speaking out.
This is not how the law is supposed to work. The law should be the same for everyone. But the report shows clear examples that it is not.
In one case, 13 Zanu PF members were arrested in August last year after they incited violence at a rally in Glen View 7. Within just nine days, they were out on bail. Meanwhile, activist Makomborero Haruzivishe, who faced similar charges without even causing harm to anyone, was kept in prison for 14 months before he was given bail.
It doesn’t stop there. The “Zanu PF 11” were accused of murdering an opposition supporter, Mbongeni Ncube. They got bail after 46 days. But Job Sikhala, a CCC opposition leader, was kept in prison for 595 days for allegedly inciting violence—without ever being proven guilty.
Even more shocking are the cases of corruption. Zanu PF-linked figures like Henrietta Rushwaya and Priscilla Mupfumira, who faced big corruption charges, were granted bail quickly. But opposition members like Joanna Mamombe and Pride Mkono were made to suffer long court battles and delays before they were given any chance at bail.
This is no longer just a problem of “slow courts” or “bad lawyers.” It is a sign of deep corruption and political interference in the legal system. The report says some magistrates are under pressure and even colluding with outside political players. They are being used to punish government critics and protect ruling party members.
The lawyers who wrote the report are now calling on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to act. They suggest creating anonymous ways for magistrates to report when they are being threatened. They also want courts to record all proceedings digitally, so no one can secretly change what was said or done.
The report also calls for Zimbabwe’s laws to be changed. One key law that needs reform is the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. This law controls how courts deal with bail, and right now it gives judges too much room to delay or deny bail unfairly. Civil society groups are being urged to lobby parliament for changes that will bring fairness back to the system.
This is not just about lawyers and courtrooms. This is about democracy and human rights. When one group can commit crimes and walk free, while another group is jailed just for protesting or tweeting, then the law is broken. And when the law is broken, so is the country.
Zimbabwe’s justice system is supposed to protect all people, no matter their politics. But right now, it is doing the opposite. It is being used to protect power, not people.
If we want real change in Zimbabwe, it must start with the justice system. Courts must be fair. Judges must be free from political control. And every person, no matter their party, must be treated equally under the law.
This report is a wake-up call. Zimbabweans must speak up and demand justice. Without it, there can be no democracy. Only fear.