‘CIO interfered in my SA asylum plea’ – Roy Bennett

country.
Briefing journalists at a press conference organised by the Foreign Correspondents Association (FCA), Bennett, said the political persecution of opposition activists was worsening. He said the South African President, Thabo Mbeki and his government have to acknowledge that there is a crisis in Zimbabwe.

Roy Bennett addressing conference on Tuesday in SA.
“One wonders where the SA government stands in such a scenario. They should condemn Zimbabwe’s human rights abuses. The recent eviction of COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, from Zimbabwe is an indication of how bad things are in Zimbabwe,” he said .
Bennett, who is yet to speak to the SA government over the deteriorating state of affairs in Zimbabwe, told the journalists that the communication was being done through the department of Home Affairs. He was denied asylum papers by Home Affairs officials, who argued that his reasons for application for the status were not compelling.
In a Home Affairs document in the possession of CAJ News, the SA government denied Bennett asylum, saying his claims had not been substantiated.
“After a thorough assessment of your claim and careful scrutiny of all the available information the Refugee Status Determination Officer has come to a conclusion that your testimony does not warrant the granting of refugee status. In consequence thereof your claim has been rejected in terms of Section 24 (3) c. of the Refugee Act of 1998 as unfounded for the reasons stated hereunder,” reads the document.
However, Bennett dismissed the Home Affairs’ refusal, arguing that there had been manipulation of the process by Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). He said justice minister Patrick Chinamasa had actually flown from Harare to see his South African counterpart over his application.
He said his lawyers were trying to have dialogue with the SA government. Bennett also told the press conference that although Zimbabwean problems were purely internal, his party wanted the international community, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and the whole of Africa to recognise that there was no rule of law in his homeland.
“Of course, the Zimbabwean people will sort their problems, but we are saying there is no rule of law, there is persecution of opposition political activists, no free and fair elections. These issues must be addressed.
“In a free and fair environment, MDC would win elections overwhelmingly,” said Bennett.
When asked which MDC faction he supported, Bennett dismissed the notion that MDC was ever split into two warring factions. He argued that both were fighting for the same cause though from different directions.
“People of Zimbabwe are united except for a few individuals, who moved out from the party for their personal reasons. These people, who moved out knew that they had left the people behind, but the fact is that the people at grassroots level are united and one.
“The Morgan Tsvangirai MDC is the authentic one, that is where I belong,” said Bennett.
Turning to the issue of some white commercial farmers who are said to be ready to return to Zimbabwe and start tilling the land, Bennett said they should not return to Zimbabwe at all costs.
“With inflation hitting above 2000 percent, no rule of law and increasing institutionalised theft of resources, I don’t see the white farmers coming back to Zimbabwe,” he said. – CAJ News