Innocent until proven guilty (by a competent court of law)

Chased down,caught,incarcerated and locked up in the murky,smelly,dark and cold cell of Dark Fate Prison.A morning that had started like any other:a routine 20 minute jog took a turn for the worst and cost Amandla his freedom.For months,the notorious and feared Zimbabwe Republic Police had been on the manhunt for a faceless serial killer who had terrorized and tormented the villagers of Shabulanyana.This village had once been friendly,welcoming and trusting until 5 teenage bodies turned murdered and mutilated in the thick bushes within a space of a week between each discovery.The police,fearing accusations of incompetence piling up on top of those of corruption,bribery and other criminal conduct immediately jumped into action.The net the law enforcement agency casts to trap suspected criminals is wide and usually biased against people who look,talk or act in ways perceived strange,unusual and unorthodox by society.On this fateful morning,Amandla,the 26 year old son to the newest resident of the village was to find himself entangled in that brutal and unforgiving net.Being a new comer on it's own was enough to naturally draw the ire of the storm to him.His tattoos,unkempt hair ,golden teeth and "colored" complexion did not help him become any less suspicious and targeted.Barely three weeks ago he and his mother had moved to the village.It ought to have been a time of nervous excitement with meeting new neighbors,settling into a new home and making new friends.It was such a time until that morning,when the police, acting on an "anonymous" tip fingered and arrested Amandla on allegations of 5 counts of murder.The news of his arrest spread like veld fire across the village and indeed across the whole province of Matebeleland North.Almost like a fuse had been lit,the new comer became the center of conversations in bars,social meetings and schools.The newest family in the village involuntarily hogged the unwelcome spotlight and scrutiny.Media coverage added fuel to the already gigantic flame that blazed and threatened to engulf Amandla's family.Daily,Amandla was portrayed in the local media as a questionable character whose demeanor and appearance suited perfectly the description one would ascribe a psychopathic maniac who would delight in pouncing on teenagers and killing them to satisfy his unnatural longing for blood.Public anger towards the family escalated so much that villagers organized a march in the cover of the night to Amandla's home where they demanded the family leaves the village within a week on the threat that should they fail to comply,their home would be torched and assets unsoaringly destroyed.A report was made on the following day but the police,already pleased to have caught the "killer" whose continued freedom would have reflected badly on their already tarnished image, were too busy to deal with the case.The resident minister ,Mr Sizo Makhekhaya Nhliziyo made futile attempts to deescalate the tension and temper engulfing the village over the arrest.He emphasized on the importance of allowing justice to take it's due course, the most basic of legal tenets(innocent until proven guilty) and stressed on the accused's constitutional right to be treated with dignity and respect.All these fell on deaf ears as once the people of Shabulanyana have decided in their court of public opinion that one is guilty,it is of no consequence what the court of law says.Meanwhile,behind the thick durawall and electric fence of Dark Fate Prison,Amandla was facing so much torture he wished and even prayed to die.True to their notorious undemocratic instincts,state detectives paid him visits daily and metted out inhuman brutality in attempts to get him to confess to the charges.They had no success.The days were slowly moving towards his trial and it seemed to Amandla that he would not make it to that day alive.His lawyers,Nyoni and Partners applied for bail .The application was dismissed.They tried to get the court to grant Amandla his legal right to be attended to by a medical practitioner of his choice as he had suffered severe injuries at the hands of prison guards and detectives .This too failed.It seemed like all odds were against Amandla,the decked could not have been stacked any higher against him.The poor diet and unhealthy jail conditions did not make the burden any lighter.By the day of his trial,he was so thin,frail and emaciated his mother could barely recognize him.His sunken white eyes and protruding bones made for a very sorry sight.On that day,dwellers from the village gathered outside the courtroom,chanting slogans and demanding that Amandla be lynched for his "heinous crimes".They were so forceful in their demonstration that they had to be restrained by police as they surged ahead towards Amandla when he came out of the green Prisons and Correctional Services van.Everyone in the court room gasped and seemed to be fixated on the ghost that was led into the dock in leg irons and dirty khaki overalls.He walked slowly and faintly,it was clear he was mastering all the strength he could to appear strong in the face of his mother whose stream of tears had already reached her chin.It seemed to everyone that Amandla would be found guilty,given the public opinion gravitating against him and pressurizing the court,the biased manner in which the judge had already handled his case before and above all,his physical appearance of red eyes,golden teeth and tattoes which were almost sinful to the largely conservative courts and people of Matebeleland.When a different judge,Mr Zibusiso Gedleyihlekisa Dube-Nkomo entered the court house and announced that he would be taking over the matter as the original trial judge had fallen ill the previous day,it was a ray of hope Amandla's lawyers welcomed with gladness.Maybe now, at least the trial would be unprejudiced,free and fair.The trial commenced.The indictment was read.Amandla pleaded not guilty.The plea was entered.The state presented it's case,called it's witnesses and examined them.The defence counsel also presented it's case and so went the proceedings,smoothly,without interruption right up to the time both parties presented their closing arguments.The judge announced that he needed time to do a thorough weighing of all evidence presented and would give a well-considered ruling five days from the day of trial.The accused was to remain in custody.Time seems to move at a snail's pace when one is eagerly or anxiously waiting for an event to come to pass.Such was the case with Amandla's mother.All she could do was wait,pray,hope and wish all the best for her son whom she believed was innocent.Two days before the day of judgment,all the harsh treatment and unfriendly prison conditions had taken such a toll on Amandla that it was difficult for the prison authorities to simply ignore.An ambulance was quickly called for him and he was admitted at the general hospital.When the day of judgment delivery finally arrived,Amandla was still in hospital.His mother and lawyers would receive the judgment on his behalf.A tense atmosphere gripped the court room when the judge walked in,his black robe giving him a sombre quality and inspiring fear in the heart of Amandla's mother.Here was a man whose word would be the fate of her son she had sacrificed everything to raise to be 26 years old.Her only begotten son who had over the years worked tirelessly to pay her back for her love and devotion.Her only child who now lay in hospital,cuffed to the iron bars of the bed because he has been fingered for murder.Here was a lawyer appointed judge over her son's life...her fear,uncertainty and anxiety made her knees buckle.Everything around her disappeared when the judge began reading his preliminary remarks to the judgment.Suddenly she was all alone with the booming voice of this earthly "king over life"penetrating and filling every crevice of space in and around her. After what seemed like ages of painstaking patience...

"Having heard the arguments for both state and defense,having considered all evidence and thoroughly read all submissions,I hereby find the accused...NOT GUILTY."

At that moment,Amandla's mother lost all control of herself and collapsed on the floor.After a long period of pain,torture and emotional distress,a twist of fate had brought her and her beloved son good news.Finally,they could now start the healing process and try getting back to their normal lives.It would not be easy,it would not be simple,it would not be quick but it would by all accounts be worth it.Joy,no words could express engulfed Amandla's mother so completely and overwhelmingly that all she could do was cry.The bad and painful was eventually starting to give way to a ray of light on she and her son could bask and smile again.As she descended down the back steps of the court room with the help of her son's lawyers,her phone rang and she answered with a voice filled with joy.A few seconds into the conversation ,her countenance dropped and once more she collapsed.

Her son had succumbed to his injuries barely five minutes earlier.He had taken his last breath and departed to meet his maker.

Everyone had though he was guilty of murder,he endured a lengthy period of incarceration but the court of law acquitted him.He was innocent but unfortunately,stereotypes and prejudices against people of his color and looks cost him more than his freedom,it cost him his life.May his resilient dear soul rest in eternal peace and pride of daring to be different and being unapologetic for it,no matter the cost.Fare thee well Amandla.