Roy Bennett
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Roy Leslie Bennett (born February 16, 1957) is a white Zimbabwean politician who is a former member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for the seat of Chimanimani), and is currently the Treasurer of the Movement for Democratic Change mainstream faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
He was elected in the 2000 Parliamentary election, despite the constituency seeing intimidation against MDC voters by supporters of Zanu-PF. During the campaign his wife and family were physically attacked.
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[edit] Imprisonment
In 2004 Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told Bennett in Parliament that Bennett's Charleswood Estate in Chimanimani would be taken by the government and resettled. Chinamasa then said:
| “ | Mr. Bennett has not forgiven the government for acquiring his farm, but he forgets that his forefathers were thieves and murderers.[1] | ” |
Bennett stood up and walked towards Chinamasa, shouting, "Unoda kundijairira iwewe! Unoda kuti ndiite sei? (Shona: You are really getting on my nerves! Do you think I will let you get away with that?"). Bennett grabbed the collar of Chinamasa's shirt and wrestled him to the floor. He then tried unsuccessfully to punch Corruption Minister Didymus Mutasa who responded by kicking him. Other MPs then took out guns and threatened to start shooting if they did not stop fighting. The Sergeant at Arms escorted Bennett out of the chamber. Deputy Speaker Edna Madzongwe ejected Nelson Chamisa and Willias Madzimure for their involvement in the fight.[1]
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition condemned the actions of Bennett and Chinamasa.[1]
A bill of attainder was then passed with even the MDC being part of the parliamentary committee to investigate that incident imprisoning him for 15 months. The court also postponed the election in his constituency Chimanimani by a month to give his team time to campaign. However, this did not prevent the MDC from losing the seat to ZANU (PF).
[edit] Release
On June 28, 2005 Bennett was released from Chikurubi Prison after spending eight months of his twelve-month sentence in custody. It is standard prison procedure to commute a third of any sentence for good behaviour. He told reporters he had been made to stand naked in front of prison guards and was then given a prison uniform covered with human excrement when he arrived in jail. He denounced prison conditions generally in a press conference after his release, saying "The inhumanity with which the prisoners are treated and their total lack of recourse to any representation or justice combined with the filth and stench of daily life is something I will never forget and I will not rest until their conditions are improved."
Bennett declared his desire to continue in politics, saying "I am more determined than ever to continue to strive for a better Zimbabwe for all Zimbabweans, the current oppression cannot continue for much longer and sooner, rather than later, the people will assert their rights." He also said that if the opportunity arose and the people for Chimanimani asked him to, he would stand as their representative again.
[edit] Subsequent developments
During the MDC split over the proposed boycott of elections to the Zimbabwe Senate in 2005, Bennett sided with MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai in support of the boycott.
Bennett is currently living in South Africa, and applied for asylum. His application was initially rejected by the South African Department of Immigration. On 13 May 2007, the South African government accepted his asylum request.[2]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c MP in punch-up with ministers in Zimbabwe's Parliament, November 3, 2006. New Zimbabwe
- ^ SA gives Zim politician asylum News24
