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Statement on the indictment of Senator Roy Bennett
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
October 15, 2009

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has received with disbelief and amazement the news of the indictment of Mr. Roy Bennet. The incarceration of Deputy Minister designate of Agriculture, Senator Roy, Pachedu, Bennet shows the levels at which Mugabe has gone in failing to respect and uphold the spirit of inclusivity and should therefore be stopped forthwith. Mugabe cannot continue to pretend that he is not aware of such malicious behavior of his thugs in the Ministry of Justice and the A.G's office. If he cannot reign on his people, he has no role in being a Principal to the Global Political Agreement (G.P.A).

Mugabe who has found a pony in Chris Mutangadura, (Public Prosecutor from the A.G's office) who has gone all over the country persecuting people aligned to the M.D.C. Mr. Mugabe needs to be reminded that he cannot continue to take other partners in the Inclusive Government for granted if he expects it to survive and deliver meaningful change to the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

Mugabe has made it clear that Senator Bennet will only be sworn in as Deputy Minister of Agriculture after the finalization of his case, which simply proves the fact that Tomana (the Attorney General) wants to delay Bennet from serving his office in the Inclusive Government. ZINASU reiterates its call that Johannes Tomana is not fit for the Office of Attorney General and the Inclusive Government should move in faster to remove him as he continues to act on partisan basis, indiscriminately harassing the former opposition officials and activists.

To Mutangadura, history will judge you one day and I have no doubt that you will be called upon one day to explain your actions. We are excited, humbled and encouraged by the stance the MDC .T. has taken in suspending all Government operations with immediate effect. We urge them not to return to work or have anything to do with this Inclusive Government until Pachedu has been released.

We call upon the M.D.C to quickly provide leadership and act in a decisive manner in this case as continuously dilly dallying with Mugabe on such issues will only further frustrate the party membership and the generality of Zimbabweans.

In the same vein, we call upon the M.D.C Youth Assembly to mobilize their structures and the whole country and make it difficult for Mugabe to govern this country up and until Roy Bennet is released and sworn in as Deputy Minister of Agriculture. We cannot continue in a business as usual approach while leaving Mugabe playing games with us.

We stand in solidarity with Senator Bennet and all other human rights defenders facing procecution from the state and we urge him not to be deterred by these harsh environmental challenges in his fight for a democratic and transparent Zimbabwe.

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