A magistrate in Zimbabwe who ordered the arrest of a top aide of President Robert Mugabe has announced he is bowing out of the case, after he was apparently intimidated.

The independence of the country's judiciary has been under the spotlight for some time now.

Didymus Mutasa, who is the minister of state for Presidential Affairs, had failed to turn up to testify in a land case two weeks ago when Magistrate Ngoni Nduna ordered his arrest.

Few were surprised when police did not arrest Mutasa but then the minister lodged a high court case against the magistrate.

Nduna now says he is no longer going to handle the matter saying he has been visited by a CIO officer who wanted the records.

The minister also publicly criticised the magistrate, calling him "very stupid".

The magistrate says he finds himself now unable to deal with the case.

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