By HRH Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare
Harare, Zimbabwe (News of The South) – King Munhumutapa Timothy Chiminya has expressed his profound disappointment and questioned the authority of the Zimbabwe legal system after being summoned to court regarding allegations for which he claims there are now no witnesses or evidence. Speaking after his recent court appearance, the King asserted his royal status grants him immunity from such proceedings and voiced serious concerns about the treatment of prisoners.
King Munhumutapa stated he directly questioned the High Court Judge who presided over his case, inquiring whether the court possessed the authority to summon a monarch. He claims the judge confirmed that courts have no power to summon him due to his royal position. The King believes being summoned to court undermines the authority inherent in his title.
“As a King, I should be able to carry out my duties freely with the authority bestowed upon me,” King Munhumutapa declared. He further suggested that any concerns from the President regarding his actions should be addressed through direct discussion, not via a court summons. He emphasized that a previous High Court order recognizing his kingship should be considered part of the law.
Adding another layer to his defense, King Munhumutapa claimed diplomatic immunity, suggesting this should have been taken into account by the court.
Beyond his own case, King Munhumutapa raised significant concerns about the treatment of prisoners. He described a dehumanizing process where inmates returning from court are allegedly forced to strip naked and perform jumping exercises as part of a search. He expressed particular distress over instances where female prison officers are present during these searches, which he believes further erodes the dignity of those incarcerated.
He recounted being told by a prison officer that even former ministers, including Ignatius Chombo, had been subjected to the same procedure. King Munhumutapa argued that such stringent searches are unnecessary given that prisoners are under supervision at court and have no contact with outsiders, rendering the process a gratuitous assault on their dignity.
In a surprising anecdote, King Munhumutapa described how he conducted traditional courts (“matare”) within the prison and would seemingly predict future events to other inmates. He further claimed that upon his discharge, the entire prison erupted in an unprecedentedly loud celebration, leaving remand officers astonished.
Concluding his statement, King Munhumutapa passionately called for the dignity of all prisoners to be respected within the justice system.
It remains to be seen how the court will respond to King Munhumutapa’s claims of diplomatic immunity and the alleged lack of evidence against him. His vocal criticism of prison procedures will likely add to ongoing discussions about prisoner welfare and the balance between security and human dignity within Zimbabwe’s correctional facilities.
Comments
About Author
