Johannesburg – A parliamentarian of the Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Roy Bennett, is facing a one year jail sentence, following a recommendation by the parliamentary privileges committee. On 19 May the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, during a heated debate called Bennett’s forefathers “thieves and murderers’. An irate Bennett pushed Chinamasa to the floor. Zanu PF minister Didymus Mutasa then kicked Bennett, and another minister, Kembo Mohadi, tried to intervene but Bennett pushed him away. He went for Mutasa and sent the minister tumbling to the floor. Sources close to the proceedings told ZimOnline from Harare that the committee headed by a Zanu PF Kadoma lawyer and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Paul Mangwana has completed its job and “will report to parliament any time.” Under Zimbabwean law, it is an offence for members of the committee or journalists to reveal findings of a committee before it reports to parliament. There was no consensus on the recommendation to send Bennett to jail and the matter was put to the vote, resulting in the four Zanu PF committee members beating their two MDC counterparts. The sources could not say what recommendations were made with regard to Mutasa and Chinamasa who were also involved in the kicking and shoving in the house. If Bennett is sent to prison for a year he will automatically have to leave parliament. Under Zimbabwe’s laws parliamentarians lose their seats if they are sentenced to imprisonment of six months or more. He has the right to appeal in a court of law. During the controversial land reform process, Bennett’s farm was confiscated by the government despite six court orders against the acquisition.

Source: ZWNEWS.COM