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Roy Bennett walks out of prison after spending a month in jail
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
March 12, 2009

MDC National Treasurer and Deputy Agriculture Minister - designate, Hon. Roy Bennett who was yesterday granted a US$5 000 bail was this morning released from Mutare Prison.

Thousands of MDC supporters thronged the prison to witness the release of Hon. Bennett, who walked out of detention at exactly 11.04 AM today after spending a month in prison on trumped charges of banditry and terrorism.

Bennett, who was in high spirits waved and shook hands with the MDC supporters, who had been signing and dancing since morning awaiting his release.

Hon Bennet, who was appointed deputy minister of Agriculture, told journalists at the MDC's provincial office in Mutare that he was ready to take up any post given to him by the party and the people of Zimbabwe.

He said he had no hard feelings over anyone who had stood in the way of the legal process to have him get his freedom. Hon Bennet expressed his concern over the massive starvation in the prisons, where people are eating sadza with salted water. He said five people had died while he was in prison.

MDC supporters have been keeping a vigil at the prison since Hon Bennet's arrest.

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the State's appeal against High Court decision granting Hon. Bennett bail but increased the bail money from US$2 000 to US$5 000. As part of his stringent bail conditions, Hon Bennet will report three times a week at Harare Central Police Station and has surrendered his travel documents and the title deeds of his property to the Clerk of court.

Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku threw out the State's appeal to set aside the lower court's ruling to deny Hon. Bennett bail.

Hon. Bennett, who is facing trumped up charges of possessing dangerous weapons for purposes of insurgency, banditry and terrorism, has been in custody since February 13 this year, when he was arrested at Charles Prince Airport in Harare on his way to South Africa. He was granted US$2 000 bail by the High Court on February 24 but remained in custody after the State was granted seven days to lodge its appeal against the court's decision.

However, the State unsuccessfully sought leave to appeal against the granting of Bennett bail at the High Court, before it was given the right to appeal at the Supreme Court last week.

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