Mugabe refuses to swear in Bennett
March 25, 2009
By Our Correspondent
HARARE – President, Robert Mugabe, has refused to swear in MDC treasurer Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister in a new coalition government, it has been reported.
No response was received Wednesday to questions submitted by The Zimbabwe Times to the MDC information department, seeking confirmation or comment on this latest development.
Bennett missed the swearing-in ceremony for deputy ministers last month following his arrest on February 13 on charges of terrorism charges. Bennett, 51, was released a month later on March 12 on $5 000 bail.
He was sworn in as a senator almost immediately, and the MDC expected him to be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister last week. But Mugabe “has refused point-blank”, officials were quoted as having said on Tuesday.
“He says he won’t swear in Bennett even if the MDC takes the issue to the South African Development Community,” one official said. “The President says Mr Bennett faces very serious charges.
But lawyers representing Bennett say the charges – which relate to an alleged assassination plot against President Robert Mugabe – are fabricated.
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Concerning the selection and appointment of ministers, the GNU agreement clearly puts this responsibility upon the shoulders of the individual political parties, provided of course the party concerned has still not exhausted its allocated quota. And so Robert Mugabe cannot dictate to Morgan whom to either appoint or not appoint…this is an internal MDC matter. If we were to turn the tables around…would Mugabe accept Tsvangirai telling him not to appoint Mnangagwa or anyone for that matter into cabinet?
Of course not, Tsvangirai does not run Zanu-PF and neither does Mugabe run the MDC…simple and clear. That Bennet has an pending court case is irrelevant…we all know that in a properly functioning judicial system, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty and so Roy as it is now, is free of any crime. However, we also know how the justice system works in Mugabe’s kingdom, judicial officers are prosecuted for adhering to the law.
Well, not for long though Robert… I have got news for you…you are going down and out. I would like to encourage Roy and the MDC to remain firm and resolute…you have sacrificed a lot for this country and so Roy please, do not give up. Who doesn’t know the suffering and misery which ZANU PF has brought upon your person? You have had your livelihood taken away from you, and why…all because of your skin colour and political affiliation! You have been incarcarated on trumped-up charges…it is like a horror movie this story of your life. And so please, just hang on there…the whole of Zimbabwe is behind you.
The whole bunch of the ZANU PF old guard potentially face serious charges including crimes against humanity not sheer fabrications labelled against Bennett – wy didn’t this senile old man raise issue with swearing them in? Instead he actually brought more than was due to ZANU PF per the GPA. This man is becoming more than just a joke. The issue is he is off his rocker, no doubt. Before this aged octagenarian, SADC stands no chance – it’s made up of such hopelessly useless people to the extend that it’s all beyond belief. Mutambara, for once, was right – how on earth can anybody, let alone, donor country, which unfortunately is the West, take this GNU monster seriously? It is this Mugabe intransigence that will keep those relationships that Zimbabwe desperately needs, very polarised. The MDC has to think seriously about the way forward. There is no way this GNU is going to work – the MDC are only remaining in there for as long as it takes ZANU PF to sweep them off their feet -I shudder to even imagine that day but unfortunately, that is going to mark the demise of the MDC.
Elias, yo are both naive and foolish. Your statement has to be answered both in context and at face value.
Anyone sworn into office in the states is at the presidents discretion. he appoints secretaries and with senate approval they take office. but even then, you rightly point out that “after been accused” That’s a fundamental part of law wherever you go, be it English law or the Roman Dutch system back home – you are just accused until you are tried and convicted of any crime. So even a known white supremacist will have his day in court.
But at face value, you know very well this is just a racist issue. Mugabe has no problem with Bennett apart from his skin colour. Perhaps it is the old age in him (and those of you who still call him a Rhodie) that they have forgotten we reconciled and should live with all people of whatever skin colour. Mugabe will lose serious face value if he swears in Bennett but there is nothing he can do to stop it.
What Mugabe doesn’t realise is that the tables have already started turning. The populace he held back for so long can now see the change the MDC has brought to the country and are asking is this the change they were talking about all along? If the MDC can do this while ZANU is trying to piggyback off them in this farce of a unity govt, what more when the MDC wins the imminent elections in 2 years time?
Elias you have to remember one thing here. ZANU PF is a revolutionary party. it has failed to move on, to become evolutionary, to move with the times, the requirements of the people. it has lalways been about the individual and anyone who caters for the individual at the top find close proximity to the top and whilst basking in the glory of been close to the summit, must also occasionally help the summit to keep at bay the inevitable march against it. In other words, Mugabe will always view white people as Rhodies, especially those he has no control over. It was all fine and dandy with the likes of Stamps and Dennis Norman who made it into cabinet through his benevolence. But Bennett? Mugabe has nothing on him and the man will have no qualms in pointing out any flaws on the system as well as the man.
This is compounded more by the fact that Bennett has a really sensitive ministry to oversee. he will expose the shenanigans that occurred in farms, in GMB, in multiple ownership and so on. That Mugabe could be so afraid of a deputy minister speaks volumes. I wonder what his argument will be if this goes to the monitoring committee or even to SADC? He can’t dispute the nominee of another party and the excuse that Bennett is a criminal doesn’t hold water because until he is found guilty, he is an honest man. There is no case against him anyway, just a political vendetta which will lose ground once he starts doing his work. Mugabe is just been stubborn and that is sure sign of old age.
Ndambakuudzwa…….
Mugabe in the late 70’s and early 80’s spoke about Zimbabweans living together regarless of colour. Zimbabwe was the rainbow nation before the rainbow nation.
Mugabe has turned into a racist in his old age, he is paranoid of white people and he is asking for the white people to lift sanctions whilst taking the remaining farms and jailing the white Che Guevera of Zimbabwe.
Free Bennett and swear him as Deputy Minster of Agriculture, In this new government Bennett is the most qualified for his post. A former commercial farmer, who could help Zimbabwe regain back its title as the bread basket of Africa. Bennett is a lesser criminal than Mugabe, Mnangagwa and the whole Zanu PF party who have the innocent blood of Zimbabweans on their hands and yet these same people have been sworn into the new Government.
People of Zimbabwe lets not let our prejudice of white people or our perceived re-colonisation cloud our judgement