Friday, February 13, 2009

**BREAKING NEWS......ROY BENNET MDC DEPUTY MINISTER HAS BEEN ARRESTED...**UPDATES**

7 months ago: Roy Bennett, a senior member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in neighboring Zimbabwe speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Johannesburg, Monday June 23, 2008. Bennett said while his leader, Zimbabwe's opposition candidate, Morgn Tsavngirayi, has pulled out of the runoff set for Friday, the party hopes a free and fair vote can be held later with the help of African leaders


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MDC media alert: Roy Bennett, MDC Treasurer General and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate has just been abducted by Police from the Law and Order section at Prince Charles airport just outside Harare. The police were led by one Assistant Commissioner Nyongwe.

 He was taken in a white Toyota with registration number is AAP 4851. We understand that they are taking him to Marondera, where there is notorious torture and interogation base, the same place MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti was taken upon his return from South Africa. Details to follow .

                     (SW Radio Africa: We believe arrest warrants have been issued for election expert Topper Whitehead and MDC MP for Marondera, Ian Kay. We also believe the leaders of the three political parties are in an emergency meeting and the swearing in of the Cabinet is delayed.)





**Mugabe swears in cabinet, despite arrest**

 

 Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe swore in ministers to a new unity government Friday, despite the arrest of a top official in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party one hour earlier.

A total of 36 ministers, four more than expected, recited their oaths on the lawn of the presidential mansion, finalising a power-sharing arrangement nearly a year after disputed elections.

The ceremony was held shortly after the arrest of Roy Bennett, a white farmer who became treasurer of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and was slated to be deputy minister of agriculture.

MDC officials said the deputy ministers would take office at a later stage.

Mugabe gave some of his staunchest hardline supporters the key posts of defence, home affairs and national security.

The defence portfolio went to Emmerson Mnangagwa, seen as the president's right hand, who earned notoriety as the head of state security in the 1980s, when a North Korean-trained army brigade allegedly massacred up to 20,000 suspected dissidents from the minority Ndebele people.

Sydney Sekeramayi, who was defence minister in the last cabinet, took up the state security post.

Kembo Mohadi retained his position at home affairs, a portfolio he will share with a co-minister from Tsvangirai's party.

At home affairs, Mohadi has presided over the police during a period that saw widespread allegations against the force of rights abuses and intimidation of the MDC.

©2009 AFP 

 

 

Update from the MDC:  Saturday - 00:23

Police at Mutare police station who have charged MDC Treasurer General and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate, Roy Bennett with treason, say they will keep him at the police station until tomorrow and it is only then that they can take a warned and cautioned statement. The police inability and unwillingness to take a statement from Roy Bennett 11 hours after abducting him clearly shows that these police and state agents are being remote controlled and acting on a remote controlled instruction from somewhere. (Via Press Release)

 

 

 

 

 

Update from the MDC — Bennett has been charged with treason: 21:52


Police have again changed charges on Roy Bennett. They have now charged him with treason. These charges are scandalous, vexatious and without bases in law, but are simply politically motivated, simply intended to justify the continued incarceration of Roy Bennett.

Roy Bennett must be released unconditionally and unharmed immediately. All state institutions must respect the rule of law, human rights, the spirit and letter of the Global Political Agreement and conduct themselves in such a manner that gives confidence to the inclusive government, so that all parties may be able to attend to the real issues of uplifting the lives of the people of Zimbabwe. The restoration of people’s freedoms, human rights and democratisation are some of the basic deliverables of the Inclusive government. This theatre of absurdity must end.

Dispite the firing of live ammunition in the air and the use of police dogs to disperse hundreds of MDC supporters surrounding the police station, MDC supporters are still at the police station demanding the immediate release of Roy Bennett.

 

 

Update - Media Statement released by the MDC: 21:30

Roy Bennett must be released unconditionally and unharmed immediately. All state institutions must respect the rule of law, human rights, the spirit and letter of the Global Political Agreement and conduct themselves in such a manner that gives confidence to the inclusive government, so that all parties may be able to attend to the real issues of uplifting the lives of the people of Zimbabwe. The restoration of people’s freedoms, human rights and democratisation are some of the basic deliverables of the Inclusive government. This theatre of absurdity must end.


 

 Update from the MDC: 20:44
Hundreds of MDC members and supporters have surrounded Mutare police station, where MDC Treasurer General and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate is being held. There is heavily armed police. Police have charged Roy Bennett with attempting to leave the country illegally. However they keep back tracking and are incoherently inconsistent on what they intend to do and charge him with.  Clearly desperate and clucthing at straws. Three lawyers are now in attendance to represent Roy Bennett.

A second MDC release that came in soon after the one above said:

Police have started firing live ammunition in the air and have brought dogs in an attempt to disperse hundreds of MDC supporters that had surrounded Mutare police station in support and demanding the release of Roy Bennett. Police intend to remove Roy Bennett from the police station to a place they have refused to disclose. The two vehicles that were used by the police to carry Roy Bennett from Prince Charles airport to Marondera and to Mutare police station are back at Mutare police station, this time without registration plates.


Update from the MDC: 19:05.



MDC Treasurer General, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate, Roy Bennett is now in Mutare at Mutare police station.


Police attempted to take Roy Bennett to an inaccessible rural police station. About 200 MDC Manicaland Provincial Executive and members barricaded the road and demanded the release of Roy Bennett. Lawyer representing Roy Bennett Mr. Trust Maanda negotiated with the MDC members and police returned to Mutare police station. The police station is surrounded by heavily armed police police.


Police have denied Mr. Maanda access to Roy Bennett insisting that they want to interrogate him alone.


MDC Mayor for Mutare Brian James is also at the police station.


MDC Manicaland Provincial Spokesperson 00263 91 924 185

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