President Robert Mugabe refused to swear in Bennett, who was the MDC’s first choice for deputy minister of agriculture, saying that he faced treason charges. Mugabe undertook to swear Bennett in if he was acquitted, but when the High Court did acquit him several months later Mugabe changed his mind.
Lucia Matibenga was sworn in as Minister of the Public Service, replacing the late Eliphas Mukonoweshuro who died in August this year.