Zimbabwe - terrorism trial

Judge orders ministerial nominee Bennett back to jail

Article published on the 2009-10-14 Latest update 2009-10-14 18:03 TU

The court in Mutare where Roy Bennett is being held
(Photo: Reuters)

A Zimbabwean court has ordered that ministerial nominee Roy Bennett be detained until his terrorism trial begins next week. Bennett is a senior official in the Movement for Democratic Change party, and a close aide to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Bennett, who was appointed Deputy Agriculture Minister in the transitional government, is accused of possessing weapons. He has denied the charges.

Magistrate Lucy Mungwari announced the trial will start next Monday in the high court of the eastern town of Mutare.

Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for MDC, told RFI the detention of Bennett was a very deliberately provocative act, and therefore unacceptable.

"It is not something we are going to take lying down. We are going to take very serious responses. It undermines the very essence of the spirit of the unity government," he said. 

 

President Robert Mugabe refused to confirm Bennett's appointment to the ministry, saying that the charges are serious. Bennett was implicated in an alleged 2006 attempt to assassinate Mugabe.

The case became a symbol of the challenges facing the new partnership of Tsvangirai with long-time rival Mugabe after disputed polls pushed the country into deeper economic and political chaos.