Co-Home Affairs minister Giles Mutsekwa has vowed to tame the controversial commissioner of prisons Paradzai Zimondi arguing that the former member of the notorious Joint Operation Command (JOC) is hindering the implementation of the rule of law, it has emerged. Mutsekwa assisted in setting free the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) and former broadcaster Jestina Mukoko while his fellow minister Kembo Mohadi was in Zambia has reportedly said that Zimondi should realise that JOC has been disbanded following the introduction of the National Security Authority.The ZANU PF leader Robert Mugabe eventually appended his signature to the National Security Authority Bill that abolished the absolute powers of the junta (JOC).

Although prisons do not fall under his ministry, Mutsekwa was said to have promised to ensure that all the outstanding cases of the human rights activists and MDC supporters that are reportedly behind bars are cleared to pave the way for the practical implementation of the 100 days of economic recovery in line with the Short Term Economic Recovery Programme (STERP) that was launched less than two weeks ago.

Mutsekwa was not reachable for comment to clarify his intentions.

A subsequent workshop was held in Victoria Falls to map the way forward for Zimbabwe’s socio-economic recovery.

Zimondi was one of the service chiefs who vowed never to salute Tsvangirai arguing that he did not have the so-called straight jacket.

Since his inauguration, Tsvangirai had been persistently arguing that he does not need to be saluted for him to perform his functions.

He said that the junta would one day realise that it is necessary for a change of mindset for Zimbabwe to rise from its ashes of impoverishment.

Tsvangirai enjoys the support of the security personnel ranging from prison wardens, police officers and junior army officers following his pledge to pay civil servants in foreign currency after dollarisation of the economy that eased their socio-economic plight.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai was mobbed and given a hero’s reception when he visited Chikurubi Maximum prison to facilitate for the freedom of about 31 human rights and MDC activists that were languishing in the dungeons of solitary confinement*