High Court Judge Hungwe's Life in Danger

Honourable Justice Charles Hungwe is now living in fear for his dear life after an attempt on his life last Saturday, 31 October 2009. Available information points out that his vehicle was crushed into by unknown persons who were driving an Isuzu Double cab without number plates as his car was just coming out of his residential house. Fourtunately or unfortunately the car was being driven by his son and the judge was not in the car when the incident occured. It is reported that the assailants sped off soon after the incident raising the suspicion that this could be a plot to eliminate Judge Hungwe who has in the past been perceived a staunch apologist and sympathiser of the Movement for Democratic Change. It is interesting to note that Judge Hungwe is one of the few Judges who have exuded the charismatic qualities and interpretive role of the proper fucntion of the judiciary in a democracy. He is one of the few judges in Zimbabwe who have rendered progressive judgements upholding the rule of law and human rights respect in many instances and cases involving accused MDC officials and supporters. Judge Hungwe recently granted bail to the MDC T Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Roy Bennet accused of bantitry and plotting an insurgency in the country. He further barred the State to appeal against his decision. Observers point out that this may be one of the instances as to why there is an attempt on his life considering the high political interests surrounding the case as shown by the fact that the Attorney General himself and the senior staff in his office personally went to Mutare Provincial Court to oppose the bail appplication on the ground that this was a high profile case which required the AG himself to be present so as to bring finality to the case. Why such an interest, one can wonder? It is unfortunate that one of the few progressive and independent judges is being targeted and this is very inimical to the guarantees of the independence of judges in the country and also to the proper administration of justice as judges will be forced to be compliant with the dictates of the most powerful figures in society.