Zimbabwe's loneliest prisoner (White farmer and MP imprisoned)

CFP ^ | December 13, 2004 | Judi McLeod

[MikeEdwards]

With Christmas nigh and the international community looking the other way, Roy Bennett, the only white farmer MP in Zimbabwe’s opposition government, marks more than 40 days in prison.

Sentenced to one year’s hard labour, Bennett’s already badly blistered from sunburn and covered in lice. The MP’s crime? Officially, it’s that he angrily pushed then apologized to Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who had most flagrantly insulted his family. Chinamasa had called Bennett’s father and grandfather "thieves and murderers" and told him he’d never be allowed to return to his farm, taken by Robert Mugabe’s treacherous ZANU-PF government.

Fighting words, indeed for a former police officer, whose English grandfather settled in what was then Rhodesia.

Bennett’s real crime? Being the only white farmer in parliament who persistently stand up against the Mugabe regime, despite beatings, arrests and threats.

As he languishes in Mutoko prison, the world goes on without him.

The 20th wedding anniversary of Roy and Heather Bennett passed as the courageous MP remained crammed with 17 other prisoners in a cell meant to hold four.

The heartbroken and anxious Heather is allowed to see her husband for only 10 minutes every two weeks. . . . .

[SittinYonder]

Very interesting story.

[OKIEDOC]

Where is that old racists Kofeee Anus when you need him.

Damn shame.

[JOAT]

The United States should actively sponsor and recruit the white farmers for immigration here. After all, our policies destroyed the country they built over several generations. They are hard workers who would make good citizens.

But, due to their lack of pigmentation, they are not worthy candidates for immigration to the 'new' Amerika.

[Clive]

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[cyborg]

They're not coming here now. They're going to countries where they can do more of what they used to do in Zimbabwe. What makes you think they're more qualified to be here than anyone else? The Rhodesians who are here came here long before Mugabe started locking up people. Despite your hyperbole about their skin color, US DOES grant visas to Zimbabweans. Sorry to disappoint you.

[cyborg]

And Amnesty International... Red Cross too while they're at it.

[cyborg]

"You can’t run away from everything. There are some things in life worth taking a stand for," Bennett told me, winning a place in my heart forever as a bona fide, true-life hero.

[cyborg]

http://www.freeroybennett.com/

[JOAT]

They're not coming here now. They're going to countries where they can do more of what they used to do in Zimbabwe. What makes you think they're more qualified to be here than anyone else? The Rhodesians who are here came here long before Mugabe started locking up people. Despite your hyperbole about their skin color, US DOES grant visas to Zimbabweans. Sorry to disappoint you.

Um, yes I know. The farmers are going 'next door' which is much easier than attempting to transplant themselves across an ocean.

Predictably you leapt on skin color, which was precisely my point. It is far more difficult to come here from Eastern Europe or the former Rhodesia than from Mexico for example. A simple fact.

I have friends who fled RHODESIA (aka 'Zim') to S.A. and I actually know what I'm talking about. My post said we should encourage immigration from these people because our f'd up policies DESTROYED Rhodesia. It was a bastion of western civilization and we handed it over to the communists.

I think we should rectify this wrong. Sorry if you have a problem with that.

[cyborg]

You're the one who mentioned skin color as a point in the issue of immigration, not me. If you were making some connection about illegal Mexicas then say so because I would absolutely AGREE. I don't have a problem with helping people who were harmed by the opinions of Jimmuh Carter. However, Rhodesia is the English government's problem. It wasn't the USA that dismantled Ian Smith's government. Unfortunately for them Ronald Reagan wasn't president. Do you agree that President Bush endorsing Kofi Annan isn't a good sign?

[OKIEDOC]

I agree with both of you. What the world needs to do and so do all these bleeding heart liberals is take a look at the before and after picture of these countries in Africa. Nelson Mandella was supposed to be so great but look at the dire straights he and his racists government have that country in now. Same for Smith and his government. Muggermagabber has turned it into a racists enclave and not one of those bleeding heat liberals seems to give a damn. As long as the crap is running down hill on those they disdain as being to white their OK with what ever happens.

[cyborg]

Liberals are like parasitic worms. They leave the infested host before the real damage starts. Where did Randall Robinson move to when he had enough of racist America? It wasn't Zimbabwe that's for sure.