Roy Bennett, a member of the Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was recently released from jail after being sentenced in 2004 to a year’s imprisonment by the country’s Parliament for pushing Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa to the floor, after the minister accused Bennett’s ancestors of being thieves.
Bennett speaks to the Mail & Guardian Online about the challenges facing Zimbabweans, why he still stays there, the state of the country’s prisons, his solutions to the crisis in Zimbabwe and what South Africans can do to help.
1. You say the opposition MDC has been hijacked by corrupt opportunists driven mainly by personal greed. Can you elaborate on this?
Basically, what’s happened, I think, is the same as what happens in all political parties … There are certain people in the MDC who have no grassroots support but hold technocratic positions. We have the five-year congress coming up, where the party will be reorganising itself. These people are trying to reposition themselves for positions within the party structures — and they are causing disruptions and mayhem to try to gain support within the organisation.
2. Is there intense political rivalry within the MDC ranks?
No, other than opportunists trying to position themselves, but not with the elected and representative posts put there by people.
3. What is the greatest challenge that ordinary Zimbabweans face in their daily lives?
To live, to get through the day, to eat, to find a decent place to sleep, to find a job, just the general norms of society. [An ordinary Zimbabwean] hasn’t got them. Every day, his day is a struggle.
Basically, because of the meltdown within the economy, everything has [run] short: a currency shortage, there’s a petrol shortage, there’s shortages of about every single commodity, so that is having further ramifications on businesses unable to operate because they’re unable to secure foreign exchange. They are unable to get fuel to keep their businesses running, which is putting more pressure back on to the people, and basically it’s just a total basket case.
4. What do you think about South African President Thabo Mbeki’s stance on Zimbabwe? What do you think he should do?
I don’t understand his stance on Zimbabwe. I don’t understand his stance and the fact that he’s advocating quiet diplomacy. Meanwhile, it would appear that he’s tactically supporting the Mugabe regime.
He’s never spoken out against the undemocratic procedures that are taking place in Zimbabwe or in support of the Zimbabwean people who are suffering as a result of the Zanu-PF government.
5. Who should be Zimbabwe’s next leader?
I think it’s up to the people of Zimbabwe. I can’t say who I personally feel should be the leader. It’s whoever the people choose.
6. What can ordinary South Africans do to help the Zimbabwean situation?
Put political pressure on their local politicians or their government to speak out and act in any manner to bring democracy and good governance to Zimbabwe.
You’re an ordinary person — how are you going to have an effect on what’s happening in Zimbabwe? By contacting your local political structures and your local MPs, saying you’re terribly concerned as a South African about what’s happening in Zimbabwe, our neighbouring country, and you are desperately worried about what’s happening there because of the ramifications of what would happen here [in South Africa].
[You should say,] ”So, please can you bring representation in Parliament to ask our government to start interacting in a positive way to bring about democracy and good governance [in Zimbabwe].”
It’s all about the people and it’s not about a political party. It’s about the people in Zimbabwe who are suffering as a result of not being able to express their own views or stand up for their own rights.
They can’t stand up and have the freedoms that you have, like freedom of expression and freedom of speech. There’s no free press. It’s absolutely necessary with all these issues that the South African government put pressure on Zimbabwe just to open up democracy, for freedom of expression and freedom of association.
Any free press is completely destroyed by the regime that’s there. And any person who stands up to express their democratic right is victimised by the current regime.
The latest, the clean-up operation, is all a direct result of the urban population who have voted for the opposition.
If every time anyone who expresses his views or vote is victimised, do you ever expect those people to stand up again?
7. What is the state of the Zimbabwean prison system?
Deplorable, absolutely deplorable! There’s a severe food [shortage]. There’s a lack of a proper diet, unsanitary living conditions, no maintenance in any of the facilities, toilets that don’t flush, showers that don’t work — massive overcrowding because of the poverty. The average age is 25 years old. And they’re in for very petty crimes.
The clothing that you given is torn and completely unacceptable … Blankets are filthy and lice-ridden because the blankets are never washed. I washed them myself, and even if I just stood on them in water, I did it.
The human rights abuses that take place in the prisons are the beatings and the victimisation of prisoners. The prisoners are forced to go and work for the military and the courts’ judges — to do hard labour on their farms.
Anybody that was seen in the judiciary as not part of, or ruling against, the ruling party was kicked out if they were [supporting] the opposition.
The judgements that they make are in support of the ruling party. [On] anything that’s political that the judges fear will bring victimisation from the ruling party, they reserve judgement.
[The judicial system is] totally compromised — [there are] three pillars of the state: Parliament, the judiciary and the executive! Basically there’s no independence. It’s just the executives. It’s a totally dictatorial government without the separation of powers.
You have Cabinet interfering with the Parliament and the judiciary. New constitutional laws have been pushed into Parliament recently — [according to which] people like myself who talk to people like you will have their travel documents withdrawn. That is the latest legislation put into place right now. That’s a direct order from the executive.
The final reading is next week. Anybody who is deemed against the regime or to be outspoken against it will be discredited in any way … and will have their documents withdrawn.
It’s just more oppressive measures to silence the opposition. I’d rather be a prisoner in my own country than in another country. If they take my travel documents away, it’s fine. So, if they take my travel documents away, what can I do?
They changed the Constitution so that where any land has been taken, the owners cannot be helped by the court. They can’t seek any help from the court. So, basically, what has happened [is that] the MPs and ministers who have been the beneficiaries of land through Zanu-PF passed a Bill through Parliament that you cannot challenge those acquisitions in the court.
8. What solutions do you have in mind to the problems in Zimbabwe?
What is needed there is a genuine will by the Zanu-PF government and the opposition to enter into dialogue on behalf of all the Zimbabwean people and bring about democracy and good governance. That’s what’s needed.
You build a country and you build nations up on a positive input. You build by saying good things, you don’t say racist things. The way Zanu-PF carries on blaming everybody but themselves for the problem in Zimbabwe … the more you proportion blame and insult people, the less you move forward to solve any problems. It makes things worse and it doesn’t make it any better.
9. Why are you still living in Zimbabwe?
It’s my home. It’s the only home I know and I love the country, the people. It’s all I’ve ever known and it’s all I’ve ever wanted. I’d rather fight and make a stand for what is right with the majority of the people of Zimbabwe.
All I’ve done is exercise my human rights for the freedom of speech and freedom of association. No matter how much they beat me, I will always stand up for what I believe is right. The people of Zimbabwe don’t understand that they are allowed to stand up. They’ve been so badly treated for so long, they don’t understand that they are allowed to stand up.
It’s much easier to give in.
10. When did Robert Mugabe lose his way?
I don’t think he’s ever lost his way. I think he’s always been what he is. Only when his hand was forced did he show his colours.
He showed his colours during the liberation struggle. He was responsible for the deaths of one of the commanders of the guerrilla forces — who was more popular than he was. He was becoming a threat to Mugabe for the leadership of the Zanla [Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army] and Mugabe had him killed.
Any opposition formed or anyone that dared expressed any views differently to his has been dealt with in a severe manner.
What’s happening is not new. It’s always been there, but it can no longer be hidden. When he lost the mandate to rule and realised that the people of Zimbabwe no longer supported him he declared war on his own people.
But you must understand that it’s not Mugabe. It is basically the military commanders. Mugabe is a figurehead — as long as he’s there, they are protected. They are responsible for the total situation in Zimbabwe, because they control it and they control Zimbabwe.
The military rule Zimbabwe to this day and always have. They are uneducated and they’ve only known war and violence to force people to be their way.
As much as I believe Mugabe wanted to retire a couple of years ago, those people will never let him go.