I quote from Jan Raath. An article he wrote in the Times Newspaper of 28th October 2004.
A White opposition MP who is a hero to thousands of black Zimbabweans faces a year's imprisonment for knocking one of President Mugabe's ministers to the ground during a parliamentary debate.
A parliamentary disciplinary committee yesterday recommended that the legislature jail Roy Bennett of the Movement for Democratic Change for contempt of parliament.
Under Zimbabwean law, the legislature can fine, expel or jail MPs for misbehaviour in parliament. Debate on the issue begins today. Mr. Bennett's lawyers say that his chances of avoiding prison are slim. Mr. Mugabe's supporters have a comfortable majority in the house. "The sentence should send a clear message that parliament should not be used as a boxing arena" Paul Mangwana, the chairman of the disciplinary committee said.
On May 18th Mr. Bennett was goaded by Partrick Chimamasa, the Justice Minister, who told him that the Government had seized his farm for good and that he would never be able to return because his ancestos were "murderers and thieves". Mr. Bennett, 47 and a former policeman, stormed to the Government Front Bench and floored Mr. Chimamasa with a shove to his chest. Mr. Mangwana said "Mr. Bennett's plea of provocation had not been accepted. The MP had shown no remorse" he added.
Mr.Bennett had suffered four years of harassment at his farm. Two of his 360 workers were murdered. Most of them were assaulted and tortured, as was Mr. Bennett. His wife and two teenage children were terrorised. Soldiers, police and ruling party thugs occupied his farm in violation of six High Court orders and looted his home, crops and livestock. "They hate me" he said "They do it becasue it is me. I am white Opposition".
Mr. Bennett has won the support of many ordinary black Zimbabweans. In parliamentary elections in 2000 he stood for the opposition - Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the tribal farming constituency of Chimanimani in southeast Zimbabwe, until then one of the country's most militantly pro-Zanu (PF) areas. He won 12,000 votes, twice as many as his ruling party opponent. After his scuffle with Mr. Chinamasa, three Zanu (PF) MP's congratulated him. His opponent acquired the nickname "Chinamasaoswa" meaning "he who took such a beating he messed his trousers".
Mr. Mugabe said "Bennett must go" Zanu(PF) banned him from eastern Zimbabwe. Harare's Governor threatened revenge if he was seen on the streets of the capital. Two days later, thousands at an MDC rally in one of Harare's townships greeted him as a hero. Mr. Bennett, a second-generation Zimbabwean, was raised on a farm. His speech is peppered with "Rhodie" slang, but he also speaks Shona and has been accorded the unheard-of-honour for a white man of a tribal totem - of Mukanya (Baboon) - which admits him as a full-blooded Mushona.
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I was today invited out to meet a lady who has, until recently, lived in Zimbabwe for 50 or more years. She told me that she was in Zimbabwe when the incident took place and it was shown repeatedly on T.V. She informed me that what she saw was nothing to what Mr.Bennett is being charged with. In fact Mr. Chinamasa stumbled and this is what caused him to fall down. A shove was not enough to down a man.
Posted by: Mara at October 28, 2004 15:54 |
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africa
I noticed an African family in my home village the other day. A grandmother and her daughter with a teenage son and a much smaller child. They seemed a very nice family, and I asked the grandmother if she were new to my village. She replied no that they were up for a week's holiday.
I mentioned to her that I had been born in Malawi and asked where she came from. She whispered her reply to me - Zimbabwe. I was amazed but realised this was a legacy of fear. I immediately took her in my arms and hugged her, she in turn hugged me. We exchanged names and chatted for a while about exactly where came from, where we had had our babies, the wonder of the Victoria Falls and Lake Kariba etc., and I wished her well and went on my way. Once I had finished all my business I set off to go home, when I heard someone call out to me - it was the grandmother's daughter.
Christine went on to tell me that she was doing a degree course, and once it was safe to go back to Zimbabwe she would be returning. She intended to put to good use her new found knowledge and get into Government, and to really make a big difference to women's lives. She gave me her address and phone number and hoped I would contact her. Christine also said that I and my family would be most welcome to return to Zimbabwe as her guests. This simple act of friendship gave me such a warm feeling, and I returned home with a smile on my face.
Posted by: Mara at October 26, 2004 23:28 |
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