Joana Mamombe, a Member of Parliament in Harare West for the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), faces a tough time. She is caught up in a battle that shows deep problems between politics and law in Zimbabwe. In May 2020, during a strict Covid-19 lockdown, she was charged with planning a protest against the government. Her friends, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, who were charged with the same, have been cleared of all charges.
Back on May 26, 2020, Mamombe, Chimbiri, and Marova were arrested. They were accused of causing public trouble and breaking the peace. These charges came from the Criminal Law Act and rules about Covid-19. The three have been loud about how the government dealt with food issues during the lockdown. This led to a lot of hunger and tough times for people.
Their trial has been going on for over four years now. It has shown how the government might be using its power to quiet those who disagree. While Chimbiri and Marova are now free from charges, Mamombe’s trial is set to start on July 9. This situation makes people question if the law is fair. Alec Muchadehama, the lawyer helping them, finds it strange that the court’s decisions are so different even though the cases are similar.
Mamombe has always faced challenges in politics. She became a parliament member in 2018 when she was just 25. Since then, she has been arrested and kept in jail many times. One of the worst times was in 2020 when she was taken and hurt badly. She says government people did this. Though she was later cleared of some charges, these events have been hard on her and costly for the taxpayers too.
Despite these troubles, Mamombe has kept working hard. She leads the Environment Committee in parliament and fights for better laws to protect nature. But now, her future in politics is not sure. There are fights within her party, and Sengezo Tshabangu has taken some leading roles with support that some say is not right.
The way Mamombe is treated again and again raises big worries about fairness and law in Zimbabwe. It seems that the law is not the same for everyone, especially if you are against the government. This could hurt how people see the law and democracy in Zimbabwe.
As Mamombe’s next trial date comes closer, many people around the world and in Zimbabwe will watch closely. What happens will tell us a lot about human rights and law in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Mamombe’s strength gives hope to those who want fairness and true democracy. This shows why having a fair and honest legal system is key to any free society.
Despite Mamombe’s brave stance and her role in the Environment Committee, it seems like real change is continuously stifled. Her treatment suggests that any opposition within Zimbabwe is met with resistance and suppression, rather than open dialogue and reform.
t’s deeply concerning that taxpayers have to foot the bill for these lengthy and possibly unwarranted trials. The financial drain caused by prosecuting political figures like Mamombe could be better spent on pressing issues like healthcare and education.
Mamombe and her colleagues have played a crucial role in bringing attention to significant issues, such as the government’s handling of food distribution during the pandemic. Their activism sheds light on the struggles many Zimbabweans face, highlighting the need for accountability and better governance.
It’s troubling to see how Joana Mamombe is being singled out and still facing trial while her colleagues have been cleared. This reeks of selective justice and raises serious questions about the fairness of the judicial processes in Zimbabwe. The continued harassment of Mamombe casts a dark shadow over Zimbabwe’s claims of democracy. If the government truly supported freedom and justice, why are political dissenters treated so harshly? This undermines the credibility of the entire system.