Lawyers accuse AG

 Beatrice Mtetwa who together with Trust Maanda is representing Bennett criticized state lawyers for hounding the former Chimanimani legislator by appealing a High Court ruling acquitting the MDC official who is Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s pick for the Deputy Agriculture ministerial portfolio.

“It is clearly political persecution,” Mtetwa told journalist outside the Supreme Court after Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku presided over an application filed by AG Tomana seeking leave to challenge Bennett’s acquittal.

Bennett, who had been on trial since last year on charges of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe’s previous administration was acquitted in May by High Court Judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.

Justice Bhunu ruled that the state failed to prove a prima facie case against Bennett during his high profile trial.

The former legislator was arrested in February 2009, shortly before he was to be sworn in, over terror charges arising from accusations that he had funded a plot to topple President Mugabe four years ago.

Bennett was acquitted in May by High Court Judge Justice Bhunu.
Meanwhile, Chidyausiku postponed the case indefinitely to go through the submissions by the State and the defence.