Roy Bennetts treason trial acquittal has been nothing but a waster of taxpayers money and an abuse of the Attorney General's office, says the MDC. High Court judge Chinembiri Bhunu on Monday found Bennett not guilty of illegal possession of weapons of war and plotting treason and upheld the MDC treasurer generals application for discharge.
“His (Bennett) acquittal is also an indictment on the person and office of the Attorney General, Johannes Tomana, who has wasted the taxpayers money in besmirching and persecuting an innocent Zimbabwean, the MDC said in a statement
It called upon President Robert Mugabe to immediately swear in Bennett as deputy minister of agriculture. Mugabe had promised to swear in Bennett as soon as he was declared innocent of treason. His office was still silent on the matter at the time of going to press.
The MDC said the AG had used his powers to target party activists and officials for prosecution, citing as proof the fact that none of its members who have been brought to court by Tomana on various charges have ever been found guilty.
We have never believed in the politics of violent regime change. We have always been agents and disciples of peaceful, non-violent and democratic means and processes of regime change.
It is no wonder that the so-called terrorism charges against Bennett have failed to stick, just as similar charges against several MDC activists have continued to crumble like a deck of cards over the past 10 years, says the statement.
The MDC last February lodged a formal complaint with the committee that oversees implementation of Harares power-sharing agreement Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) about the unjustified arrests and harassment of its officials and supporters by state security agents.
The case against Bennett had stemmed from allegations of a plot to topple Mugabe in 2006. Tsvangirais choice for deputy agriculture minister was arrested in February 2009, shortly before he was to be sworn in.
Amnesty International Africa Deputy Director Michelle Kagari welcomed the news but said:
“We remain concerned about persistent abuse of the law against perceived opponents of Zanu (PF). We urge the unity government to immediately end all malicious prosecutions of people exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.” In the last three months human rights activists attempting to facilitate public debate on past human rights violations have been specifically targeted and their activities barred by police. Between 26-28 April, police in Masvingo, Gweru and Chinhoyi stopped exhibitions of photographs depicting organised violence and torture that followed the March 2008 elections.
Post published in: News