Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court ordered the release on Wednesday of a top member of Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change, dismissing an appeal from prosecutors to deny him bail.
“The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal by the state against the High Court decision to grant him bail,” said Beatrice Mtetwa, a lawyer for Roy Bennett, who was arrested on terror charges last month.
BAIL
Mtetwa said however that the court had tightened bail conditions for Bennett, Tsvangirai’s pick for deputy agriculture minister, whose arrest has cast a pall over the new government of national unity.
“He now should pay US$5,000 instead of US$2,000 granted by the High Court. He has to report three times weekly to the police instead of twice,” Mtetwa said.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku also ordered Bennett to surrender his passport and the title deeds for his home, she said.
RELEASE
Bennett was expected to be released later on Wednesday, she said. However, another lawyer for Bennett said that the release would not take place until yesterday.
“The release is now tomorrow [yesterday],” Maanda said by telephone from Mutare, where the MDC official is being held.
“The court which was supposed to issue the warrant of liberation had closed by the time the Supreme Court made its ruling,” Maanda said.
TERROR
Bennett, a white former farmer, has been in custody since Feb. 13 when he was arrested on terror charges as Zimbabwe’s new unity government was being sworn in.
The treasurer of Tsvangirai’s party, Bennett is accused of possessing arms for the purposes of banditry, terrorism and sabotage.
A High Court granted him bail of US$2,000 two weeks ago, but he has remained in custody as prosecutors mounted a series of appeals.
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