Bennett slams senate and government of national unity

By Tererai Karimakwenda

18 November 2005

The former member of parliament for Chimanimani and MDC national executive member Roy Bennett has spoke out against the senate elections and the idea of some sort of a government of national unity. In a wide ranging interview with the Reverend Martine Stemerick on Friday, Bennett blamed Britain as the former colonial power and South Africa as our biggest trade partner for interfering in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe.

Bennett said the 2 powers are more interested in a reformed ZANU-PF combined with elements of a split MDC who would form this government of national unity. The idea, he said, would be to sweep all the human rights abuses committed by Mugabe and his cronies under the carpet. There would be no truth and reconciliation commission and those responsible for the murders, theft and corruption that have plagued our country will simply get away with it. But when the idea was presented to many Zimbabweans on the ground, Bennett said it was rejected hugely. Zimbabweans were not interested in any of it, and basically want to focus on bread and butter issues. He said a senate is absolutely not needed right now and is a waste of enormous amounts of money.

Bennett also explained how the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe is an embarrassment to the British government and South Africa. He said the more the issues became critical and disruptive, the more these governments conspired to make the situation amicable. Bennett believes they want to soleve the Zimbabwe crisis and wind up with no egg on their face.

Bennett was very strong in his opinions and very deeply concerned about what is happening to the ordinary people. Although he believes in the end Zimbabweans will triumph as they are resilient and wonderful people, he was concerned about the food crisis and the water situation which are both getting worse.