Supreme Court of Zimbabwe
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HARARE - Zimbabwe's Supreme Court on Thursday granted prosecutors the right to appeal against a ruling granting bail to MDC official Roy Bennett, in a case that has raised tension in the new unity government.
Bennett, who had been set to become a junior minister, was arrested on February 13 and charged with plotting terrorism, which carries a possible life sentence. He will remain in custody until a hearing date is set, said prosecutor Chris Mutangadura.
His arrest is an early test for the new government in which President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) share power.
Bennett's lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, said she was disappointed with the Supreme Court ruling, especially after the judge told prosecutors that "they hardly have any prospect of success" on the bail appeal.
The new government faces an array of crises: food and fuel shortages, the world's worst hyperinflation, and a cholera outbreak in which nearly 88,000 people have been infected, with nearly 4,000 killed, according to the World Health Organisation.
Tsvangirai said on Thursday that cases of infections and deaths from the country's worst cholera epidemic were far higher than those reported.
Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, blames Western sanctions for the once-prosperous country's economic decline. His opponents blame Mugabe's own policies on nationalisation and the seizure of land from white farmers.
Western donors, whose aid is crucial to the country's recovery, are waiting for signs that the power-sharing government is working, and ready to enact reforms, before they will release funds.
Tsvangirai on Wednesday made his first call for an end to international sanctions, part of his bid to start rebuilding the shattered economy.
But U.S. President Barack Obama announced the same day he had extended sanctions against Zimbabwe, saying the southern African nation had not resolved its political crisis.
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Chamu
on
14 March, 2010 08:50:29
Chamu
on
14 March, 2010 08:42:39
loyal zimbabwe
on
14 March, 2010 12:30:04
Jimara.
on
14 March, 2010 10:59:31
Tembo
on
14 March, 2010 01:49:26
Comments (2 posted):
What is required here is decisive action that brings to book the violators of the rule of law without any further delay.
Does anyone honestly believe that Mugabe would give an order to Tomana to release Bennet & Tomana would disregard that? Or that when Tomana tells some hungry police / prison officer that Mugabe ordered Bennett to be released, the officer ''disappears'' with the 'liberation warrant''? On whose orders do you think Garwe acted when he allowed ZANU lawyers leave to appeal against bail even when he knew their chances of winning were zilch? Please we are not kids, don’t insult our intelligence! Mugabe is testing you and if you continue to shout on the sidelines without taking real action on these matters soon everyone will be convinced that you are nothing but a toothless bulldog & that’s exactly what Mugabe wants.
Soon Bennet & those close to him will become disillusioned & form another splinter MDC; Mugabe's divide & rule!! Don't you see it coming?
I believe you can do better than just shouting!!
nice article i like it a lot. 5 stars!
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