ZIMBABWE’S FIRST coalition cabinet meeting took place yesterday in a “fairly cordial” atmosphere, even though the meeting coincided with opposition ministerial nominee Roy Bennett being charged with terrorism.
Prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson James Maridadi said the meeting of the 32 cabinet ministers, which was chaired by President Robert Mugabe, was “fairly cordial” and tried to focus on the handover process rather than overshadowing tensions.
However, at a later meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, “the issue of credibility of the government and the state and the need for freedom of expression and information without fear of reprisals was addressed”, Mr Maridadi told reporters.
The Movement for Democratic Change has indicated it will take a strong but unspecified stance if Mr Bennett, whom they have nominated to be their deputy agriculture minister, is not released to take up his position.
The former Zimbabwean farmer has been in custody since last Friday when he was arrested shortly before the new unity government ministers were sworn in by President Robert Mugabe.
Even though the powersharing deal contains a clause guaranteeing the safety of presidential nominees, Mr Bennett was held and charged four separate times over the past five days.
Yesterday he was charged at a court in the eastern city of Mutare with attempting to commit terrorism and sabotage and conspiring to acquire arms, which relate to an arms find in 2006.
The court said it would rule today whether he would have to face the charges. The MDC has rubbished the charges as false, saying Mr Bennett’s arrest is an attempt by Zanu-PF hardliners, who have lost out in the new government’s reshuffle, to destabilise the powersharing efforts.
Prior to Mr Bennett’s arrest the powersharing deal had already hit shaky ground, with Mr Mugabe refusing to release up to 30 opposition supporters and rights activists picked up by security forces before Christmas for plotting to overthrow the government.
According to Amnesty International yesterday a further seven women activists and three men from Radio Dialogue were arrested over the weekend in Bulawayo during a peaceful protest.
“The arrest of Roy Bennett, a high profile figure, on what appear to be politically motivated charges reveals the level of challenges facing the unity government . . .” Simeon Mawanza of Amnesty said.