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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe court acquits PM's ally | Zimbabwe court acquits PM's ally |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A Zimbabwean court has acquitted a leading politician, Roy Bennett, of plotting to overthrow the country's President, Robert Mugabe. | |
| Mr Bennett is a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party. | Mr Bennett is a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party. |
| The judge ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove that an alleged link between Mr Bennett and a convicted arms dealer was genuine. | |
| The case had threatened to split the country's unity government of long-term rivals Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. | The case had threatened to split the country's unity government of long-term rivals Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. |
| The MDC had always said the charges were politically motivated and insisted that he be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister but Mr Mugabe refused, saying the courts should first finish the case. | The MDC had always said the charges were politically motivated and insisted that he be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister but Mr Mugabe refused, saying the courts should first finish the case. |
| Mr Bennett was already free on bail. | Mr Bennett was already free on bail. |
| 'Good triumphs' | 'Good triumphs' |
| Speaking outside the court in Harare, he told the BBC he was happy to be acquitted and now had the time and strength to move on. | Speaking outside the court in Harare, he told the BBC he was happy to be acquitted and now had the time and strength to move on. |
| ANALYSIS By Brian Hungwe, Harare | ANALYSIS By Brian Hungwe, Harare |
| The acquittal of Roy Bennett has cleared one of the major obstacles dogging Zimbabwe's year-old power-sharing government. | The acquittal of Roy Bennett has cleared one of the major obstacles dogging Zimbabwe's year-old power-sharing government. |
| But it could also signal the beginning of another heated debate. | But it could also signal the beginning of another heated debate. |
| Roy Bennett's deployment to the agriculture ministry irked the security services and top Zanu-PF officials, many of whom benefited from the land reform programme. | Roy Bennett's deployment to the agriculture ministry irked the security services and top Zanu-PF officials, many of whom benefited from the land reform programme. |
| It is unlikely that President Mugabe will accommodate Mr Bennett or allow him near controversial files that might expose the rot. | It is unlikely that President Mugabe will accommodate Mr Bennett or allow him near controversial files that might expose the rot. |
| There is a general expectation Mr Mugabe will dig in and the MDC will again cry foul despite the acquittal. | There is a general expectation Mr Mugabe will dig in and the MDC will again cry foul despite the acquittal. |
| Should Mr Mugabe climb down and swear him in, it would be a huge political statement. New battle brewing in Zimbabwe? | Should Mr Mugabe climb down and swear him in, it would be a huge political statement. New battle brewing in Zimbabwe? |
| "Good has triumphed over evil," he said. | "Good has triumphed over evil," he said. |
| "I've been standing resolute with the people of Zimbabwe who've been undergoing the same persecution. But it's made me more resolute and fortified me more in my fight towards real change in Zimbabwe." | "I've been standing resolute with the people of Zimbabwe who've been undergoing the same persecution. But it's made me more resolute and fortified me more in my fight towards real change in Zimbabwe." |
| He was looking forward to having a proper sleep, he told the AFP news agency in the Shona language. | He was looking forward to having a proper sleep, he told the AFP news agency in the Shona language. |
| The white former farmer is a leading member of Mr Tsvangirai's MDC (Movement for Democratic Change). | The white former farmer is a leading member of Mr Tsvangirai's MDC (Movement for Democratic Change). |
| He was to have taken a position as deputy minister for agriculture in the government when he was arrested in February 2009. | He was to have taken a position as deputy minister for agriculture in the government when he was arrested in February 2009. |
| "Having carefully considered the facts, I come to the conclusion that the state has failed to prove a prima facie case," said Judge Chinembiri Bhunu. | "Having carefully considered the facts, I come to the conclusion that the state has failed to prove a prima facie case," said Judge Chinembiri Bhunu. |
| "The accused is accordingly found not guilty." | "The accused is accordingly found not guilty." |
| He said that the prosecutors' key evidence - an alleged confession from arms dealer Peter Hitschmann - was inadmissible. | He said that the prosecutors' key evidence - an alleged confession from arms dealer Peter Hitschmann - was inadmissible. |
| In earlier testimony to the court, Mr Hitschmann had said evidence he gave allegedly showing links to Mr Bennett had been extracted under torture. | In earlier testimony to the court, Mr Hitschmann had said evidence he gave allegedly showing links to Mr Bennett had been extracted under torture. |
| ROY BENNETT 2000: Elected MP2004: Jailed after pushing minister in parliament2006: Accused of plot to kill President Mugabe2006: Fled to South Africa2009: Nominated as deputy agriculture minister; arrestedMay 2010: Acquitted of plot charges Profile: Zimbabwe's political farmer | ROY BENNETT 2000: Elected MP2004: Jailed after pushing minister in parliament2006: Accused of plot to kill President Mugabe2006: Fled to South Africa2009: Nominated as deputy agriculture minister; arrestedMay 2010: Acquitted of plot charges Profile: Zimbabwe's political farmer |
| Judge Bhunu also said prosecutors had not proved that e-mails allegedly linking Mr Bennett to Mr Hitschmann were genuine. | Judge Bhunu also said prosecutors had not proved that e-mails allegedly linking Mr Bennett to Mr Hitschmann were genuine. |
| Mr Bennett's supporters had said the charges were aimed at undermining the coalition government. | Mr Bennett's supporters had said the charges were aimed at undermining the coalition government. |
| A spokesman for the MDC has said the party will push for Mr Bennett to take up his ministerial position immediately. | A spokesman for the MDC has said the party will push for Mr Bennett to take up his ministerial position immediately. |
| Although the case was a major cause of tension in the power-sharing administration formed in 2009, several other problems remain, such as nominations to key positions and accusations of continued persecution of MDC activists. | Although the case was a major cause of tension in the power-sharing administration formed in 2009, several other problems remain, such as nominations to key positions and accusations of continued persecution of MDC activists. |
| Last week, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai put on a rare show of unity to appeal for investors to return to the country. | Last week, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai put on a rare show of unity to appeal for investors to return to the country. |