MONDAY, 3.00PM
ZIMBABWEAN war veterans became rowdy at Monday’s hearing of the Chidyausiku Commission probing fraudulent claims from a war victims’ compensation fund, leading to an abrupt suspension of proceedings.
The 250 veterans packing out the court house were angered by cross examination of their leader, Dr Chenjerai Hunzvi, who was being questioned on alleged forged medical reports of his two brothers, Hopio and Jonathan Hunzvi. Armed riot police circled the courtroom but failed to contain the anger of the ex-fighters. Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku suspended proceedings to allow police to clear the gallery, but police were helpless and stood by as the crowd danced and sang Chimurenga (freedom) songs. Journalists covering the proceedings were prevented from leaving the courtroom.
Earlier, an unprecedented security cordon was placed in and around the Harare High Court before the commission started its proceedings, with more than 200 riot police, some with guard dogs and armed with assault rifles, pistols, batons and fibreglass handshields, posted at strategic positions at the court building.
Hunzvi, a Polish-trained medical doctor and chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association, was recalled to answer questions from the commission on medical reports for his brothers that appear to be outright forgeries.
The 11-member commission, set up by President Robert Mugabe after the alleged abuse of millions of dollars of the War Victims’ Compensation Fund, grilled the two brothers last week on the documents, which a handwriting expert said were signed by Dr Hunzvi.
But the brothers denied they were examined by the war veterans’ leader, saying it was a plot to harass Dr Hunzvi, who masterminded a campaign to force the government to agree to pay all former fighters lump-sum gratuities of Z$50 000 and monthly pensions of Z$2 000. The government agreed to pay the packages after nationwide demonstrations by former freedom fighters.
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