Opposition says Zimbabwean courts captured

HARARE - Zimbabwe's opposition parties, civic society groups and political analysts concur: the courts are captured and no longer independent from President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government.

This follows the Bulawayo High Court's disqualification this week, of a number of the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change's parliamentary candidates.

Earlier, the Supreme Court upheld the disqualification of presidential candidate, Saviour Kasukuwere, from contesting the 23 August elections.

This week the Bulawayo High Court disqualified 12 CCC parliamentary candidates for Bulawayo province, saying they filed their nomination papers late on June 21.

In Harare, the Supreme Court on Friday also confirmed that South Africa-based presidential candidate Saviour Kasukuwere could take no part in the election.   

READ: Opposition on back foot as Zimbabwe gears for tense vote

CCC spokesperson Fadzai Mahere said, "As CCC we're obviously going to fight back, we had budgeted for the fact that Zanu PF would be behaving this way, they always do predictable things when their backs are against the wall and are staring defeat in the face."

"So, we are obviously going to appeal against the decision of the court to the Supreme Court. But, in addition, we are going to use diplomatic channels, especially within the region at SADC and AU. As CCC, we are aware Zanu PF will do everything they can to abuse state institutions to try and stay in power."

Political analysts and veteran politicians also say the removal of election candidates from ballot papers by courts is clear evidence the judiciary is no longer independent from the executive.

Veteran politician Wurayayi Zembe said, "It’s a clear demonstration of a conflict between the people's power, people's will, that of instituting the government and the powers of the incumbent executive president."

"This is the conflict we are now witnessing coming through the courts because the courts have been captured by the executive president to sing his song and protect his stay in power."

But the Zimbabwe government’s permanent secretary for Information, Nick Mangwana, has denied several times, especially on Twitter, that the executive has captured the courts.