Roy Bennett stays in jail while the State is granted right to appeal
March 5th, 2009
We’ve heard that Roy Bennett’s case has been deferred until next week, but reports suggest this could be wishful thinking:
Roy Bennett’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, says Supreme Court Judge Paddington Garwe ruled Thursday the appeal could go ahead because prosecutors had a reasonable chance of success. No court date was set. Bennett will remain jailed pending the appeal (via IHT).
This via Reuters:
Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court on Thursday granted prosecutors the right to appeal a ruling granting bail to MDC official Roy Bennett, in a case that has raised tension in the new unity government.
The court said Bennett will remain in custody until a hearing date is set.
“The accused shall remain in custody until the Supreme Court has determined the date for the hearing,” said prosecutor Chris Mutangadura.
Bennett, who was set to become a junior minister in the unity government agreed between President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was arrested on Feb. 13 and charged with plotting terrorism.
He faces up to life in jail if convicted.
His arrest is an early test for the new government, which many hope will take action to end the country’s economic crisis.
March 5th, 2009 22:10
Am I right in thinking that whilst Bennett is locked up and unable to fulfill his position in the Ministry of Agriculture , this allows the ZANU-PF cronies to grab the last few farms in the region without getting too much hassle?
We already know that the treason charges are absolute rubbish, so there must be good reason to want him locked up for this long.
March 6th, 2009 17:28
I find it hard to believe that the MDC ARE STILL TREADING ON EGG SHELLS AS THOUGH THEY ARE THE OPOSITION AS OPPOSED TO PART OF THE GOVERMENT . WHY DO THEY NOT EXERT THEIR POWER ,AS GOVERNMENT , AND CALL FOR THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED SINCE 1990 TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING A DEAFENING SILENCE . WHY HAVE THEY NOT INSISTED ON THE DETAINEE’S THAT HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED BEING RELEASED , WHY HAVE THEY ALLOWED THEIR FELLOW CIVIL SERVANTS TO ABUSE POWER BY KEEPING INNOCENT PEOPLE INCARCERATED WHY THE REAL CRIMINALS ARE ALLOWED TO FREELY WALK AROUND ? HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT WE SUPPORTED ,& MANY LOST THEIR LIVES IN DOING SO THROUGH THE STRUGGLE , BEEN CORRUPTED SO EASILY BY THE LURE OF A NICE CAR , HOUSE & POSITION THAT THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEM THERE BEEN FORGOTTEN ? MDC IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PEOPLE DRIVEN MOVEMENT SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS & ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE . WHAT WE SEE NOW IS NO DIFFERENT TO BEFORE , THIS IS NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT !!!COME ON MDC LETS SEE WHAT U R MADE OF WITH STRONG , DECISIVE LEADERSHIP NON NEGOTIABLE .