Magistrate rules Bennett can face trial for terrorism
By Violet Gonda
18 February 2008

MDC Treasurer General and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate Roy Bennett was remanded in custody until 4th March, when he appeared at the Mutare Magistrate's court on Wednesday. His defence team is expected to make an urgent bail application in the High Court on Thursday.

The MDC official had been slapped with treason charges, including illegal arms possession and of trying to leave the country illegally, the previous day.

Magistrate Livingstone Chipadze ruled that there is enough evidence on the first charge of banditry and terrorism to face trial, but cleared him on the immigration offence because the State had no evidence.

But the MDC said this was a political judgement and the charges are not sustainable, especially when several MDC officials, including the new Home Affairs Minister Giles Mutsekwa, were acquitted of the same charges when the allegations against Bennett were first made in 2006.

At that time Bennett’s other co-accused Peter Hitschmann, was acquitted of the same charges of terrorism. However he was found guilty and jailed for three years for possessing unregistered firearms

Meanwhile about 200 supporters continued with their vigil in solidarity with the MDC official, at the court house on Wednesday. Soldiers are patrolling the streets of Mutare and tension in the city is said to be high.

The MDC has on numerous occasions called for the immediate release of Bennett and the other political detainees saying “there is no basis at law for charging and incarcerating any of the political prisoners.”