This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7894498.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Zimbabwe MDC politician in court Zimbabwe MDC politician in court
(about 1 hour later)
Zimbabwe politician Roy Bennett has appeared in court and been charged with several offences, days after his party joined a power-sharing government.Zimbabwe politician Roy Bennett has appeared in court and been charged with several offences, days after his party joined a power-sharing government.
The charges against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer included terrorism, immigration law violation and illegal arms possession.The charges against the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) treasurer included terrorism, immigration law violation and illegal arms possession.
The MDC said his arrest was politically motivated and called for his release.The MDC said his arrest was politically motivated and called for his release.
Meanwhile, President Robert Mugabe and PM Morgan Tsvangirai attended the new cabinet's inaugural meeting in Harare.Meanwhile, President Robert Mugabe and PM Morgan Tsvangirai attended the new cabinet's inaugural meeting in Harare.
Mr Mugabe chaired the meeting of the 32-member cabinet, state radio reported, but no further details were immediately available. Mr Mugabe chaired the meeting of the 32-member cabinet, state radio reported.
The issue of the charges against Mr Bennett dominated the agenda, says the BBC's Andrew Harding in Johanessburg, in neighbouring South Africa.
The MDC wants Mr Bennett released from custody, along with more than 30 other MDC supporters and activists who have been detained in recent months.
'Shooting in the dark''Shooting in the dark'
Wearing a white shirt and khaki shorts, Mr Bennett looked composed at his court appearance in Mutare, 270km (170 miles) east of Harare, Reuters news agency reported.Wearing a white shirt and khaki shorts, Mr Bennett looked composed at his court appearance in Mutare, 270km (170 miles) east of Harare, Reuters news agency reported.
The MDC and the politician's defence team said the charges against Mr Bennett had changed several times since his arrest on Friday.The MDC and the politician's defence team said the charges against Mr Bennett had changed several times since his arrest on Friday.
The MDC said Mr Bennett had been charged under Zimbabwe's Public Order and Security Act (POSA) with:
  • Attempting to commit terrorism, banditry and sabotage
  • Conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services
  • Illegal possession of firearms and weapons
  • Attempting to leave the country illegally
The MDC said Mr Bennett had been charged under Zimbabwe's Public Order and Security Act (POSA) with:
  • Attempting to commit terrorism, banditry and sabotage
  • Conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services
  • Illegal possession of firearms and weapons
  • Attempting to leave the country illegally
"The police know that they do not have a case against Roy Bennett, and the charge of attempting to leave the country illegally is malicious in that they want to keep Roy Bennett in custody," said the party in a statement."The police know that they do not have a case against Roy Bennett, and the charge of attempting to leave the country illegally is malicious in that they want to keep Roy Bennett in custody," said the party in a statement.
Chris Ndlovu, for the defence, told the BBC: "Police are fishing for charges. They are shooting in the dark."Chris Ndlovu, for the defence, told the BBC: "Police are fishing for charges. They are shooting in the dark."
Mr Bennett is the party's choice to be deputy agriculture minister in the new unity government.Mr Bennett is the party's choice to be deputy agriculture minister in the new unity government.
A white farmer who lost his property under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme, Mr Bennett spent eight months in prison in 2004-05 for pushing a minister during an argument in parliament over land reform.A white farmer who lost his property under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme, Mr Bennett spent eight months in prison in 2004-05 for pushing a minister during an argument in parliament over land reform.
He recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in South Africa, where he had fled after police sought his arrest in connection with an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe.He recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in South Africa, where he had fled after police sought his arrest in connection with an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe.