The Zimbabwean opposition politician Roy Bennett will go on trial again on Tuesday, charged with treason. But despite facing a possible death sentence if he’s found guilty, the MDC treasurer told RNW he’s hopeful for the future of democracy in his country.
Roy Bennett has long been a thorn in President Robert Mugabe’s side. The white former farmer was elected in 2000 and faced continuous intimidation from the ruling Zanu PF party. Now he’s accused of treason and plotting to kill the controversial Zimbabwean leader and says he’s seriously concerned his hearing won’t be a fair one:
“Obviously I feel very apprehensive. When you’re on trial for something you didn’t do and the charges are all trumped up and you’re in a country where there’s selective application of the rule of law and basically a judiciary system that’s seriously compromised, what do you expect?”
Secret police
Roy Bennett was seized by secret police in February last year just three days after the Movement for Democratic Change and Zanu PF formed a unity government. He was later taken to a prison near the city of Mutare and charged with treason, and sentenced to a year behind bars.
Despite having described his eight months in Chikurubi prison as something he would never forget, he decided not to seek exile in neighbouring South Africa before tomorrow’s trial:
“This is about a fight for democracy, it’s about a fight for a better life for Zimbabweans. As a leader with a constituency it is my duty to fight in the best interests of the majority to have a better world so we have a country that has good governance and returns investment to the country and picks Zimbabwe up and moves it forward.”
Optimistic
Despite the opposition he’s faced – not to mention the fact he’s never been able to take up his post as deputy agriculture minister in the coalition – Roy Bennett told RNW he remains upbeat about lies ahead for Zimbabwe:
“I think Zimbabwe has a tremendous future. We just have to get past this period now and allow the people’s voice to be heard and their will to be respected.”
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When a new government is formed in Zimbabwe after Mugabe, Roy Bennett should be at the head of it. He himself represents a tremendous future for the recovery of Zimbabwe and it's citizenry. One can only hope that the world's news organizations and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International are monitoring tomorrow's trial with a high degree of attention and commentary.
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