By HRH Princess Eugene Majuru
HARARE, ZIMBABWE (News of The South) – High drama unfolded at Harare Magistrates’ Court today as charges against King Munhumutapa, accused of undermining the authority of the President, were sensationally thrown out after a chaotic and disorganized court session. The case collapsed due to invalid evidence and the inexplicable flight of key state witnesses and representatives.
King Munhumutapa had been arrested by Harare Central police on allegations of pointing out a chief based on spiritual instructions, an act the state argued was solely within the President’s purview. However, the King’s defense hinged on a High Court order that had previously declared him the rightful King, asserting that the installation of chiefs was indeed part of his lawful duties.
The trial took an unexpected turn with the appearance of Chief Stanley Chimanikire as a state witness. However, the prosecution’s case quickly unraveled when they presented a charge letter signed by an “acting attorney general.” Lawyer Mtisi, representing King Munhumutapa, vehemently argued that according to Zimbabwean law, such a critical document must be signed by the substantive Attorney General, not an acting official.
The magistrate, presiding in Court 2, reportedly expressed extreme irritation with the state’s lack of organization. Acknowledging the defense’s argument, the magistrate affirmed that the charge letter was indeed invalid as it lacked the Attorney General’s authentic signature. It was revealed that the Attorney General had already signed to accept the High Court order affirming King Munhumutapa’s status, making it impossible for him to sign a letter from a lower court that contradicted that very order.
In an unprecedented move for Zimbabwean courts, the magistrate abruptly closed the proceedings at 2 PM, instructing everyone to leave the court. During the ensuing three-hour wait outside, Chief Seke Stanley Chimanikire, a representative from CID, and even representatives from the President’s office mysteriously disappeared. These individuals were later reported to be making frantic inquiries about the case’s development from outside the court precinct.
Upon the magistrate’s return at 4 PM, the case was promptly closed. The reasons cited were the invalidity of the presented charge letters, the unexplained absence of all state witnesses who had fled, and the failure of local government representatives to appear.
Speaking to News of the South after the dramatic outcome, King Munhumutapa declared triumphantly, “Yafa yakaloader” (It’s dead, it’s finished). He vividly described the flight of those who had opposed him: “Vamhanya vaita chipatapata chemakonzo vachitiza ku court” (They ran away like scurrying rats fleeing the court).
The King also seized the opportunity to lambast Zimbabwean journalists for their reporting. “Journalists in Zimbabwe, should learn to report the truth,” he asserted, lamenting their absence from the court session. “They could have attended this court session to get the facts, but they don’t come. They end up writing about court cases without attending and without doing research to get the facts.”
King Munhumutapa specifically mentioned a journalist named Munyoro from The Herald, who he claims has since apologized for reporting falsehoods. The King stated his intention to investigate the journalism schools attended by such reporters, intending to recommend the revocation of their certificates as a means to curb false reporting in the country. Munyoro, however, did not disclose his alma mater.
“Ma journalists emuzimbabwe ngaarongeke varegedze kuudza vanhu zvekunyepa, ma journalists emuzimbabwe ane politics kudarika ma politicians,” King Munhumutapa emphasized, suggesting Zimbabwean journalists are more political than politicians themselves. He concluded by declaring his plans to serve summons for defamation of character against those who continue to undermine his authority and disregard valid High Court judgments.
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