Zimbabwe

MDC demands Bennett's release but will stay in government

Article published on the 2009-02-14 Latest update 2009-02-14 15:08 TU

Mugabe (R) listens to MDC Senator David Coltart
(Photo: Reuters)

Zimbabwe's former opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has called for the release of ministerial nominee Roy Bennett, who was arrested on Friday just before a new unity government was sworn in. The MDC has demanded Bennett's immediate release.

Police fired shots in the air to disperse MDC supporters demonstrating outside the Mutare police station where Bennett is being held late Friday.

"Whoever ordered his arrest is not a friend of Zimbabwe," said MDC number two Tendai Biti. "What it does is to shake any semblance of a foundation for the inclusive government."

But he said that the party will not quit the government, whose Prime Minister is its leader Morgan Tsvangirai. "Pulling out does not offer any solution. Sadly we are forced to stay in this arrangement for the sake of the people of Zimbabwe."

Bennett's lawyers have been told that they can only see him at 4 pm on Saturday, according to the MDC. He was expected to be interrogated by a police officer from Harare during the afternoon.

Bennett was initially charged with trying to leave the country illegally but the charge has since been changed to treason, according to the MDC.

He returned to Zimbabwe last month from three years in South Africa after fleeing to escape charges of plotting to kill Mugabe.

His farm was expropriated under Mugabe's land reforms in 2003 and was jailed foir eight months after punching the Justice Minister during a parliamentary debate on the land question.

President Robert Mugabe swore in the government Friday several hours after the ceremony was scheduled. The MDC says that his Zanu-PF was trying to take more cabinet seats than previously agreed.