HARARE – Zimbabwe police have launched a manhunt for one of the country’s senior political figures, Roy Bennett, but have refused to disclose to his lawyer the nature of the crime they suspect him of committing.

Bennett, who was last May cleared of charges of attempting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe but must return to court after the state challenged his acquittal, is a top ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and is treasurer of the former opposition leader’s MDC-T party.

His lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said plainclothes policemen have in recent weeks visited several properties owned by Bennett in Harare inquiring about his whereabouts but have not stated the reasons for which they wanted to see the politician.

Mtetwa said she phoned the police to establish why they were looking for Bennett but they would not say and instead asked her to come in person to the police station so they called tell her why they wanted to see her client.

In a subsequent letter to the police Mtetwa pleaded with the police to advise her “of the reasons why a posse of notorious CID Law and Order officers are stalking his (Bennett) premises when it is known that he is currently out of the country.”

The lawyer warns the police in the letter that she will be forced to approach the courts for appropriate relief” should they persist in their refusal to disclose the reasons for their actions.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

Bennett is Tsvangirai’s choice for deputy agriculture minister in the unity government but Mugabe has refused to swear him into office until he is cleared of treason.

The treatment of Bennett, especially Mugabe’s refusal to swear him into office, is one of the key issues at the center of a bitter dispute between the veteran leader and Tsvangirai, which has held back the Harare coalition government.

By Zimonline