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Roy Bennett

Zimbabwe’s state to appeal against Bennett’s acquittal



The state is set to appeal to the Supreme Court against high court’s decision to acquit MDC treasurer general, Roy Bennett, on terrorism charges.

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The move by the Attorney General, Johannes Tomana to appeal is a big u-turn after he had indicated Monday that he welcomed the High court’s decision to acquit Bennett. High court Judge Chinembiri Bhunu Monday ruled the state failed to furnish the court with enough evidence to prosecute the MDC top man. The trial of Bennett has been a contentious issue in Zimbabwe’s coalition government with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party dismissing the charges as politically trumped up. PM Tsvangirai Monday said Bennett was “not being prosecuted but persecuted” when he met US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton in Washington DC. In an interview on the AG’s intention to appeal MDC spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa said the move is not healthy for the proper functioning of the inclusive government. ‘That move is very unhealthy and unfortunate because it does poison the spirit of inclusivity and the Global Political Agreement (GPA) (signed by the three political parties, MDC-T, MDC-M and Zanu PF),” said Chamisa. President Mugabe has been refusing to swear in Bennett as Deputy Agriculture Minister saying the he could only attend to that after the courts clear him (Bennett) of the treason charges. It however is still to be seen if Bennett would be sworn in after Monday’s acquittal as developments on the ground indicate Mugabe’s Zanu PF is not “comfortable’ with the former white farmer deputizing the agriculture portfolio. Chamisa however dismissed Zanu PF’s stance against Bennett’s swearing in as agriculture minister saying the party will always give different reasons on the issue. ‘Zanu PF will have different reasons at every point and turn. ‘You see, it is not surprising that at one time they can say he cannot be sworn in because of his height and at another turn because of his skin colour. You can’t exactly tell what their position regarding this issue is,” he said. The Supreme Court however is supposed to rule on whether there is reasonable ground to appeal against the high court’s decision.


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Stephen Chadenga -- Bio and Archives

Stephen Chandega is a journalist in Zimbabwe


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