Robert Mugabe's government and Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay hardened their positions yesterday, in advance of a standoff today that could see Zimbabwe's top judge being forced from office.
Judge Gubbay is resisting government attempts to remove him, which he says are "unlawful and unconstitutional". In a dramatic withdrawal of an earlier promise to retire early, he pledged yesterday to serve his full term and remain in office until April 2002.
However, the government insists that Mr Gubbay's term of office ended at midnight last night and has already started the process of appointing a successor.
The Information Minister, Mr Jonathan Moyo, said if Mr Gubbay turned up for work this morning "the law will take its course", raising the possibililty of the chief justice being escorted from his chambers by police.
Mr Gubbay and the four other Supreme Court judges were attacked as "colonial agents" by the government following a ruling against President Mugabe's controversial land reform programme last December. Two other judges - one white, one Asian - have also resisted calls to resign.
"The government has not put pressure on anyone. It has merely expressed its lack of confidence in some judges because of their lack of impartiality and independence," Mr Moyo said.
The campaign of attrition against the Supreme Court judges has spread fear among the lower ranks. One High Court judge, who asked not to be named, said: "This looks like the beginning of a tighter grip by the government. I am very scared about the security of the chief justice."