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(TALKZIMBABWE) Bennett to appear in court, ministers begin work

Bennett to appear in court, ministers begin work
Ranganai Chidemo
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:42:00 +0000

ROY BENNETT, a Movement for Democratic Change official earmarked for a deputy ministerial post will appear in court Monday on terrorism charges, as newly sworn-in ministers met their predecessors for handover.

Bennett, who is the MDC Treasurer General and designated for the deputy minister of agriculture post was scheduled to appear in Mutare magistrate's court, his party said in a statement.

Police on Sunday dropped treason accusations against Bennett, who returned from self-imposed exile last month, but charged him with attempt to commit terrorism, banditry and sabotage.

His court appearance comes as the new inclusive Government began work on Monday, with MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister, after President Robert Mugabe swore in its ministers last week.

The incoming ministers will move into their offices for briefings and handover formalities ahead of an inaugural Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The MDC-T party on Monday demanded the release of Bennett as well as other detained opposition activists, saying the charges against him were "discredited and shown to be fictitious".

Police sources say Bennett, was arrested at Charles Prince Airport in Harare last Friday as he was preparing to leave the country for South Africa where he sought asylum in 2006.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Kembo Mohadi said, yesterday that Bennett was “a fugitive” who had run away from the law.

Three years ago in March, Roy Bennett left Zimbabwe under cover of darkness, after he was accused of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe. He was wanted by police in connection with the discovery of an arms cache at Peter Hitschmann’s house in Mutare. Hitschmann was immediately arrested, charged and later convicted.

In 2004 Bennett spent eight months in jail for punching Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa in parliament.

Mohadi said Bennett was a “fugitive” who escaped after being granted bail in a bid to avoid justice while his alleged partner in crime, Peter Hitschmann has since been convicted.

“There was a warrant of arrest issued against Bennett by the courts. We are merely upholding the law and putting the court order into effect . . . that is our constitutional mandate. No one is above the law and he (Bennett) sought asylum knowing full well that he was being charged with a crime,” Mohadi said.

“We had been looking for him for one and a half weeks prior to catching him at the airport where he was planning to leave the country. So we apprehended him immediately because his case is pending,” explained Mohadi.

Labels: COURTS, MDC VIOLENCE, ROY BENNETT

posted by MrK @ 4:59 PM