Roy Bennett, a top aide to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, will remain behind bars for at least two more weeks as Zimbabwe prosecutors appealed on Wednesday to the Supreme Court to deny him bail.
Bennett, who was picked by Tsvangirai for the post of deputy agriculture minister, was arrested on the day the new Cabinet was sworn in for Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government.
He was accused of possessing arms for the purposes of banditry, terrorism and sabotage but was granted bail of $2 000 by the high court last week.
But he has remained in custody as prosecutors mounted a series of appeals, finally turning to the nation’s highest court on Wednesday to keep him locked up.
The written appeal to the Supreme Court, which was obtained by AFP, said that Bennett posed a flight risk.
Prosecutor Chris Mutangadura said Bennett could be released if he pays $5 000 bail, surrenders his passport as well as the deed for an immovable property, and reports to police every day.
A new remand hearing was set for March 18, but Bennett will now remain behind bars until the Supreme Court rules on the appeal.
Bennett’s arrest raised doubts about the durability of Zimbabwe’s unity government, which was formed three weeks ago after nearly a year of turmoil stemming from disputed elections last March. — Sapa-AFP