Now is the true litmus test for the newly sworn in Prime Minister. The
new power-sharing government needs to realise that with shared power
comes shared responsibility and shared public accountability.
Bennett has now been moved to Mutare prison and has apparently declared
that his party must not give in to this heinous form of horse-trading.Â
I received the following sms's from someone who got them from someone
else who was there. They chronicle the court proceedings. (For
background on Peter Hitschmann, go to the BBC.)
3:00 – Defence lawyer Trust Maanza is saying that the very charges
brought against Roy are the ones brought against Peter Hitschmann and
were thrown out of court then!
3:15 – Only evidence State has is an email supposedly from Hitschmann
to Roy. Defence says it can be written by anyone and therefore is
inadmissable.
3:25 – Onto the second charge of contravening the immigration act….
Defence is saying that Roy presented himself to the immigration officer
and has a copy of the manifesto as well as the immigration officers
list to prove it.
3:36 – The state is saying that from the beginning Hitschmann
implicated Roy as supplying the funds. Defence is reiterating that the
evidence has already been discredited in the Hitschmann trial as the
confession was extracted from Hitschmann by torture.
3:45 – The state is back onto the email and clutching at straws.
Defence says bring Hitschmann to the court to testify'. The prosecutor
says it is not necessary and not proper but will call him at the
appropriate time
4:03 – Defence is saying Hitschmann did not implicate Roy as he (the
Defence) was there and the Prosecutor was not! But bring Hitschmann
now! State is fumbling with their papers!
4:47 – The magistrate says no one is allowed to access Hitschmann. He
will rule at 12 tomorrow whether Bennett is allowed bail. Defence has
asked that Bennett be kept at the police station and not the prison.
Magistrate says Prison. Court dismissed.
So Roy Bennett wont be sworn in tomorrow with the rest of the Deputy
Ministers. It is very clear that the hawks in Zanu PF are determined to
do what they can to de-rail the new government and are also showing
their true fears with their offer for the release of these innocent
victims. There is also strong rumour that these same hawks are angry
at the information that Mugabe has established an exit package for
himself, with no concern for the rest of those in the party that have
blood on their hands.
We await the MDC statement and what lies ahead in Zimbabwe's courts
tomorrow with the next episode in Bennett's case and the appearance of
seven abductees who should have been in court on Monday.