With the establishment by the regime of special courts martial under the control of the security forces, the main focus of political trials has shifted away from the civil courts. Fewer prosecutions under the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act have been brought before the civil courts in recent months, a trend which is apparent from the list of trials reported below.
The large number of death sentences already imposed by special courts martial (at least 11 since November 1978 - see HANGINGS CONFIRMED), however, indicates that these have been very active. Under the regulations governing these military courts (whose jurisdiction now extends to 90% or more of the country), the rights of defendants are seriously reduced (see FOCUS 19 pp.8-9). Hearings are held in camera and virtually no information is available on convictions and sentences.
While lawyers have been unable to reach court martial hearings to represent defendants, attorneys are known to have been called up by the regime to assist in their administration as either court presidents or legal advisers. (BBC 26.1.79, reporting Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation)
