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Bennett Acquittal Appeal Hearing Violations in Zimbabwe Citing the Case of the Harassment of WOZA Members HARARE – Zimbabwe’S Supreme Mtetwa Will Represent Bennett

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Bennett Acquittal Appeal Hearing Violations in Zimbabwe Citing the Case of the Harassment of WOZA Members HARARE – Zimbabwe’S Supreme Mtetwa Will Represent Bennett Iz qula enzo u I G ze o n ir z it o a G M u q a j u n l i a h C C h o i r n i t j i a a M M a a i j t i n r i o h C The Real Change Times Movement for Democratic Change A Party of Excellence! The Official Mouthpiece of the MDC Tuesday 27 July MDC Information & Publicity Department, Harvest House, 44 Nelson Mandela Ave, Harare, Zimbabwe Issue 045: 2010 Zim/EU reengagement talks: The facts Roll of shame The Real Change Times continues naming and shaming people who are disrupting the people-driven • EU demands full implementation of GPA Constitution Outreach program. • Pledges 120 million Euros to Zimbabwe Aqualinah Katsande, Mudzi West • Sets benchmarks for lifting restrictive measures MP and notorious Zanu PF apologist, Lawrence Katsiru last week on • Zanu PF delegates snub meetings Monday barred police from arresting Zanu PF youths who had assaulted a participant during a Constitution- HARARE - The European Union PF, who regularly boycotted meetings. making outreach meeting in Chikomba has told a high-powered Zimbabwe Mumbengegwi and the Foreign Affairs West, Mashonaland East province. delegation to fully implement the global permanent secretary, Joey Bimha failed political agreement before restoring full to attend several meetings, much to the Katsiru and Katsande are members of ties with the Western bloc. chagrin of their MDC colleagues. the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) in Mashonaland Speaking exclusively to The Real Because of this negative attitude from East province. Change Times on Monday after leading the Zanu PF camp, the Zimbabwe a high powered ministerial delegation delegation was told to come up with a Zanu PF youths turned rowdy during a on re-engagement with the European roadmap showing commitment in fully public meeting at Chiwashira business Union to Brussels, Hon. Elton implementing the GPA and respecting centre on Monday and attacked Mangoma, who is also the new Energy human rights. and Power Development minister, said Anthony Matodza who had just made a contribution. the EU was unequivocal in demanding The roadmap should have clear that Zanu PF fulfils its end of the signposts on what the country would A report was made at Featherstone bargain in fully implementing the GPA like to achieve with indicative dates which it voluntarily inked. police station. However, when the on implementation. police came to arrest the culprits, Katsiru and Katsande stopped them “During the meeting, it was clearly “The roadmaps with clear benchmarks articulated that Zimbabwe should fully Hon Elton Mangoma claiming Zanu PF supporters are “They can request the council with are intended to reflect on the Zimbabwe immune to arrest. implement the GPA, uphold democracy, Constitution-making process, which side the effective implementation of human rights and the rule of law,” is underway. supporting documentation justifying the GPA and on the EU side the lifting Saineti Manyika, a village head he said. why the council decision to put them on of the current restrictions and the Minister Mangoma was accompanied the list should be reconsidered and they in Kaziro, Madziva, Shamva North The GPA was signed by the three normalisation of the EU – Zimbabwe Mashonaland Central province led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, can also challenge the council decision relations,” said Hon. Mangoma. main political parties in September Simbarashe Mumbengegwi; Priscilla to include them on the list before the Zanu PF supporters last week on 2008. However, nearly two years after Misihairambwi-Mushonga the General Court of the EU.” Monday to disrupt a Constitution the signing of the pact, the MDC has “As clearly shown by Zanu PF’s Parliamentary Select Committee Regional Integration and International attitude during the visit to Brussels, expressed concern at the snail pace on Cooperation minister; and Justice They also have the right to approach the (Copac) in the area. its full implementation. and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick the MDC is seriously concerned by the EU personally and say why they should lack of commitment on the part of Zanu Chinamasa. The delegation met with not be removed from the restrictive During the commotion, the MDC Outstanding issues in the GPA include members from the EU Council and PF in fully implementing the GPA,” Women Assembly’s chairperson measures, Mangoma said. This, the Hon Mangoma said. the swearing in of MDC Treasurer- European commissioners. Zimbabwean delegation was told, can for the province, Martha Muronzi was assaulted by the rowdy Zanu General, Senator Roy Bennett as be done at anytime. deputy Agriculture minister, the The EU members told the Zimbabwe He said the MDC remained fully PF youths. unilateral appointment of the Attorney- committed to the re-engagement delegation that Zanu PF politicians who During the meetings, the EU also General, Johannes Tomana and the re- had been placed on restrictive measures negotiations with the international The Zanu PF youths were complaining appointment of Gideon Gono as the should write to the European Court made a pledge to disburse more than community despite attempts by other that Muronzi had submitted a written Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor. appealing against the decision. 120 million Euros to Zimbabwe. For partners in the inclusive government to proposal during the meeting and yet accountability and transparency, the scuttle the dialogue. the Copac team had not told them they Although the EU acknowledged that “The EU has come up with a provision money would be disbursed through could also do the same. they had been some progress made that the persons and companies on the multi donor trust fund, not the “The MDC’s view is that key to have in the country since the formation of the list can apply to the authorities of central bank. these restrictive measures eased, or The Zanu PF youths also said that they the inclusive government in February individual EU member states to get lifted, is for those in Zanu PF who are should be the only ones who should be 2009, the bloc however felt that authorisation to access the frozen assets However, the EU team was shocked resisting progress to implement the allowed to make contributions during Zimbabwe had not done enough in the to pay for basic and other needs,” Hon by the lack of commitment to dialogue commitments, to reform as they agreed the meeting. full implementation of the GPA and Mangoma said. shown by certain officials from Zanu to in the GPA,” said Hon. Mangoma. respecting the rule of law. “The EU said it was worried by the lack of progress in Zimbabwe and it continues to receive hordes of letters from individuals and civil society groups protesting human rights Bennett acquittal appeal hearing violations in Zimbabwe citing the case of the harassment of WOZA members HARARE – Zimbabwe’s Supreme Mtetwa will represent Bennett. Both Senator Bennett, who had been on its chief witness, ex-policeman and recently, on the case of Mr. (Farai) Maguwu,” Hon. Mangoma said. Court is on Wednesday expected to lawyers confirmed the hearing will be trial since last October on charges of and arms dealer Peter Hitschmann hear an appeal against the acquittal of held in the judge’s chambers. insurgency, banditry, terrorism and disowned the e-mails and denied Maguwu the director for Mutare-based Senator Roy Bennett on trumped-up sabotage, was arrested in February Bennett was involved, resulting in the Centre for Research and Development charges of terrorism. High Court judge Justice Chinembiri was jailed for more than a month Bhunu acquitted Senator Bennett in 2009 while MDC colleagues were acquittal. Mutangadura said Justice last month after exposing rampant being sworn-in as ministers in the Bhunu’s finding that the emails Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku is May after he ruled that the State’s theft of diamonds and human rights prosecution team, led by Tomana, inclusive coalition. found on Hitschmanns’ laptop were expected to preside over the appeal, abuses by State actors at Chiadzwa had failed to establish a prima facie inadmissible inn court because they diamond fields. lodged by Attorney General Johannes case against the former Chimanimani Tomana, which seeks to overturn the The state’s case - that Bennett planned were apparently doctored by military Hon Mangoma said the EU had clearly Member of Parliament. The AG applied to fund a 2006 plot to blow up a major intelligence was “outrageous.” He acquittal of Senator Bennett in May. for leave in the High Court to appeal to stated that the restrictive measures communications link and assassinate went on to state that his arguments would be progressively lifted to match the Supreme Court, which leave was progress on the ground. The hearing will be held in the granted, culminating in the Wednesday key government officials - hinged on had high prospects of success on Chief Justice’s chambers. Chris appeal hearing. Tomana argued that the e-mails that prosecutors say link him to appeal. But Bennett said he was Hon. Mangoma said the progress Mutangadura will appear for the judge had misdirected himself when he the crime. But, in the High Court hearing convinced the Supreme Court will that was noted was on the economic State while defense counsel Beatrice acquitted Bennett. the prosecution suffered a setback when uphold his acquittal. achievements in Zimbabwe, the relative peace prevailing in the country and the Together, united, winning, ready for real change! 1 Zanu PF must stop privatising national hero selection By Sandra Mutsimba Why are they not heroes? Could this Since the formation of the MDC, the mean that for one to be accorded national party has lost more than 10 000 cadres Respect for national institutions and hero status, one needs to be a card in the struggle for democracy; these events and the participation in these carrying Zanu PF member? Whoever are as much Zimbabwean heroes as national programs and events is core to said Mbuya Nehanda or Sekuru Kaguvi any other before them.
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