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Zimbabwe captive 'to be sworn in' Zimbabwe MDC man misses swear-in
(about 7 hours later)
State radio in Zimbabwe has reported that the detained MDC politician Roy Bennett is due to be sworn in on Thursday as a junior minister. The swearing in of junior ministers in Zimbabwe has gone ahead without the MDC's Roy Bennett, who is in custody.
Mr Bennett was among a list of junior ministers "advised" to report at noon for the ceremony, Spot radio said. The former farmer is the Movement for Democratic Change nominee for deputy agricultural minister in a unity government with the Zanu-PF party.
On Wednesday, a magistrate ruled there was enough evidence for him to face charges, including terrorism, and he was remanded in custody until 4 March. His name was on a list of ministers earlier "advised" on state radio to report for the ceremony at State House.
His party has joined Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party in a unity government. On Wednesday, a magistrate ruled there was enough evidence for him to face charges, including terrorism.
The charges against Mr Bennett - the nominee for deputy agriculture minister - have changed several times since his arrest last Friday. Mr Bennett - accused of illegal arms possession and terrorism - was remanded in custody until 4 March.
The Movement for Democratic Change has dismissed them as trumped up. The charges against him have changed several times since his arrest last Friday.
The MDC has dismissed them as trumped up and wants him released, along with more than 30 other MDC supporters and activists who have been detained in recent months.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai himself joined the unity government as prime minister last week.MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai himself joined the unity government as prime minister last week.
But correspondents say the detention of Mr Bennett and other opposition activists has raised the pressure on him to show this move was not mistaken. Pressure
"On behalf of his excellency President Robert Mugabe, the chief secretary to the office of cabinet Meshack Sibanda wishes to advise the following to report at state house at 12 noon tomorrow," Spot radio said, according to AFP news agency. Correspondents say the detention of Mr Bennett and the other opposition activists has raised pressure on Mr Tsvangirai to show his decision to take office was not mistaken.
Mr Bennett - accused of illegal arms possession and terrorism - was among the list of names that followed. The MDC's appointed Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, announced measures on Wednesday to tackle the crippled economy.
Some 130,000 government employees are to receive a monthly salary of $100 (£70) tax free, paid in US dollars.
He said soldiers and teachers have already been paid this week - and other civil servants will get their wages on Thursday.
The country has the world's highest official inflation rate - estimated by some economists at 10 sextillion percent - which has left Zimbabwe's local currency almost worthless.
Mr Bennett, who lost his property under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme, spent eight months in prison in 2004-05 for pushing a minister during an argument in parliament over transfers of land.
He recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in South Africa, where he had fled after being accused in connection with an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe.