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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 11 2012 01:36 | LAST UPDATED Feb 11 2012 01:36 |
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Roy Bennett, a top aide to Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, will go on trial on terrorism charges on November 9, the Mutare High Court said on Monday. Bennett was in court to hear Judge Joseph Musakwa fix the November 9 date in a case which has prompted Tsvangirai to suspend his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party's involvement in the unity government. "The state has undertaken to provide all relevant documents as soon as possible," said the judge. State attorney, Johaness Tomana, said the trial should be quickly concluded as any delays would impact the future of the inclusive government. "The government will also have an interest to have this matter finalised as soon as possible," Tomana said. Bennett was first arrested in February on his return from South Africa to take up the post of deputy agriculture minister in the unity government. Released on bail, he was re-arrested last week, prompting Tsvangirai's decision. A court ordered him released on bail once again on Friday. Tsvangirai described Bennett's case as proof that his party had an "unreliable and unrepentant partner" in the unity government with President Robert Mugabe. He said on Friday that if the new constitutional crisis escalated further, it would only be resolved by the holding of fresh elections under supervision of the United Nations and regional body the Southern African Development Community (SADC). A senior aide on Monday said Tsvangirai would this week meet with regional leaders to pressure Mugabe to resolve disputes in the country's unity government.  CONTINUES BELOW An aide told Reuters that Tsvangirai would on Tuesday meet Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, who chairs the SADC's political panel on defence and security, in Maputo. Tsvangirai would also this week travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a meeting with President Joseph Kabila, current SADC chairperson, to urge the body to force Mugabe to honour the power-sharing agreement signed last year. He may travel to South Africa later on Monday, although spokesperson James Maridadi was not immediately available for comment. -- Reuters TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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