Wongai Zhangazha
MDC-T treasurer Roy Bennett said he would not challenge the loss of his senate seat after missing 21 consecutive seatings.
Bennett, who is in self-imposed exile in neighbouring South Africa, blamed President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF for blocking his attempts to carry out his duties as a senator through repeated incarceration.
Mugabe openly declared that he would not allow Bennett to be sworn in as a senator describing him as a member of the Rhodesian Selous Scouts, a charge which he vehemently denies.
“I am not worried that I have lost my senate seat or the fact that I have not been sworn in (as Deputy Agriculture minister). I accepted to serve both the people and Zimbabwe but it has become very apparent this would not have been possible, as it has been one of the major issues that have highlighted the duplicity, insincerity and total control of the junta,” Bennett told the Zimbabwe Independent from London Thursday.
“The blame rests squarely on the hands of Mugabe and the junta that controls him, which is now very apparent by the state of the Global Political Agreement and state of affairs in the country.”
Bennett said he was disappointed by MDC-T members in government, accusing them of not doing enough to fight for the party’s cause.
“The party has done what it can as the MDC to help all its members. The problem arises with the MDC in government where it has exposed clearly that military rule is in charge and that when it comes to victimisation, violence and arrests, the government is responsible through the office of the Attorney- General and clearly that the MDC in government is powerless. We get back to the reason for entering the totally polarised marriage as humanitarian at the expense of political capital.”
Bennett, who was acquitted on banditry, terrorism and insurgency charges and is now facing contempt of court charges after High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu accused him of defamation, said being in exile was frustrating.
“Exile is very difficult and depressing, but it is also an opportunity to meet face to face with politicians and businessmen from Africa and all over the world and also to explain the need for democracy in Zimbabwe.
The challenges are day to day survival, having to rely on supporters for assistance, dealing with the negative perceptions, and turning them around with the truth. Being away from home, family and friends is the hardest of all.”
Bennett claimed that the violence rocking the MDC-T was the work of its rivals.
“There is no doubt that the MDC has been infiltrated by the junta at the highest level and that they will use all resources, human and monetary available to them to create violence and divisions in the MDC to try and make sure their spies are elected into the right positions,” he said.
Bennett says despite his acquittal on treason charges, he would not be returning home anytime soon. “I am under an arrest warrant for contempt of court and perjury. Since my return to Zimbabwe in 2009, I have been consistently harassed, arrested and threatened. I will come home along with millions of other Zimbabweans to take our rightful place when there is respect for the rule of law and state security realises that they alone do not own Zimbabwe,” he said.
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