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February 17, 2009

Mugabe, Tsvangirai Hold First Cabinet Meeting
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2257538:A6F02AD83191E160284E2948D050F7FA3CF5CDEF8FC051DA&
 
Meeting took place as Deputy Agriculture Minister designate Roy Bennett
was charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, banditry, illegal entry

Zimbabwe's new unity government held its first Cabinet meeting Tuesday,
with President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
sitting down as colleagues for the first time. The longtime rivals met
with Cabinet ministers at the government's headquarters in downtown
Harare. There was no immediate word on what was discussed. Roy Bennett
during interview with Associated Press in Johannesburg, (2008 File)
Meanwhile, Mr. Tsvangirai's designated deputy agriculture minister was
brought to court for the first time since his arrest Friday. At a court
in the eastern town of Mutare, Roy Bennett was charged with taking part
in a plot against the government and entering the country illegally. He
was initially charged with treason, but those charges were dropped
Sunday Mr. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change party says the
charges are politically motivated, and is demanding Bennett's immediate
release. Bennett is a white farmer whose property was expropriated under
Mr!
 . Mugabe's land reform program. He spent two years of self-imposed
exile in South Africa after police sought to question him in connection
with the discovery of an arms cache. MDC leaders including Mr.
Tsvangirai have said elements within Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party are
trying to undermine the power-sharing deal that led to the new
government. The sides entered the deal only after intense pressure from
southern African leaders. The new government faces the task of reviving
Zimbabwe's collapsed economy. The country is suffering from food
shortages, 94 percent unemployment, and a cholera epidemic that has
killed nearly 3,700 people. Some information for this report was
provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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