SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Mthwakazi Liberation Front leader, Paul Siwela after he failed to turn up for his treason trial in Bulawayo. This is the second time in a row that Siwela has failed to appear in court, amid reports he’s thousands of kilometers away in South Africa seeking sanctuary after reportedly receiving death threats. In an email to SW Radio Africa Siwela declared his innocence and instead castigated the ZANU PF government for abusing the judiciary to silence him to stop him talking about his grievances. He complained that after he was released from three months solitary confinement he was attacked several times at his home at night and reported the matter to the police and asked for protection. But this was denied him. ‘After receiving several death threats what was I expected to do. How can I go back for the conclusion of this case when the State machinery is after my life and the court has no power to protect me.‘Even if they detain me in prison under the pretext of protecting me how would I be safe from the State since the prisons are run by the same State that wants to kill me,’ he said. Siwela said he left Zimbabwe in August this year after an anonymous caller told him of an imminent assassination plot which he said would be effected and would be successful this time, as the government was concerned about his calls for an independent and sovereign Republic of Matebeleland. The outspoken MLF leader and two other colleagues, Charles Thomas and John Gazi, were facing allegations of attempting to topple the government by distributing flyers inciting the public to revolt against the government. Thursday’s court session was set down as the day Judge Nicholas Ndou was to have read out his judgment after the trio last year applied for discharge at the close of the state’s case. Only Gazi was set free after his application for discharge was accepted at the close of the State’s case by High Court Judge Nicholas Ndou. The judge dismissed Thomas’s application arguing that the State had provided reasonable evidence to prove that he directly took part in the commission of the alleged crime. But the state prosecution team told the court on Thursday that they had failed to issue Siwela with a summons as he could not be located. Our correspondent Lionel Saungweme told us a letter, written by Siwela and handed over to his lawyer Sindiso Mazibisa, was produced in court explaining his absence. ‘Siwela disclosed in his letter that he had received death threats and had as such travelled outside the country for protection,’ Saungweme said. Siwela, always a thorn in the side of ZANU PF’s ruling elite is on record saying President Robert Mugabe and his party will never relinquish power as long as they think they will be held to account for the atrocities committed during their 33-year reign.