(TALKZIMBABWE) Bennett, a convicted criminal

Bennett, a convicted criminal
*Tendai Midzi - Opinion
Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:35:00 +0000

THE MDC-T treasurer, financier, deputy minister of agriculture designate, Roy Bennett is a convicted criminal who spent time in a Zimbabwean prison. Bennett is one of the few lucky people who will, if sworn in, be able to serve and represent people after he was convicted of a criminal offence and spent time in jail.

His appointment, as a convicted criminal, is the prerogative of the President of Zimbabwe.

MDC-T and activist arguments that Tendai Biti and Arthur Mutambara are charged under Zimbabwe's laws, so should receive the same treatment as Bennett are weak and lame. Bennett spent eight months in prison for attacking a minister and Member of Parliament in the House.

Besides being complicit in a 100-year long fight to perpetuate white supremacy and the apartheid system in Zimbabwe, Bennett still maintains the same attitude as he held back in the colonial days.

He and many other blacks who served Smith's regime as police officers, soldiers, etc are still very much working to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle which segregated blacks and left them second class citizens in their own country.

Bennett stands in the way of black empowerment. He stands against it and is unequivocal about his intentions.

In the comfort of his house in South Africa last year Bennett told Miningmx that when the MDC-T assumes power, they would reverse all mining deals of the present government.

He threatened the Central African Mining and Exploration (Camec) when they struck a deal over a new platinum mine, previously held by Anglo Platinum as part of its Unki Platinum project, with the government of Zimbabwe.

In doing so, Bennett threatened the country’s indigenization legislation.

Camec Managing Director Andrew Groves stood firm and responded: “Assuming the MDC gets into power then let them try. That deal was done in accordance with all the laws of Zimbabwe.

“They will find the deal very difficult to undo and we will take the issue to international arbitration if necessary. This kind of thing was tried on us before in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Miningmx quoted Groves as saying.

He said during the Miningmx interview: "When the MDC gets into power in Zimbabwe, any (mining) deal ... will be not be honoured and will be undone.”

Bennett also said that current mining and minerals negotiations in Zimbabwe will end when the MDC-T assumes total control in the country.

He also urged Anglo-American to put all their planned investment and/or operations ”on hold” until a new MDC-T government is in place. Fortunately the MDC-T party has not assumed total control.

Prior to the March 29 harmonised election, Bennett criticised the entry of Professor Arthur Mutambara onto the political scene saying: “How and where in the world does someone parachute into a Presidential position never having addressed a branch meeting in the rural areas?”

He also criticised former finance minister and presidential candidate, Dr. Simba Makoni and accussed him of receiving money from the donor community to run his campaign.

“And right now as we watch Simba Makoni … walking with three people from his house into a room and making press statements. He tells us he is not alone, we’ve seen nobody else come up and stand next to him.”

Simply put, the hypocritical Bennett is a dangerous person who cannot be entrusted with political power. He does not believe in plurality, yet he preaches it daily.

Given his chequered history and his unrepentent attitude, it is no wonder those people who fought for Zimbabwe's independence find him unsavoury character.

Interestingly, the MDC-T think he is such an important character to warrant withdrawing from the inclusive Government and jeorpardising the lives of millions of Zimbabweans.

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*Tendai Midzi works as a lecturer in economics at the London Metropolitan University.