Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 13, 2009

Ministerial Nominee Arrested in Zimbabwe
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=22455B5:A6F02AD83191E160AB3DCED19808BCBA7F0EB4B66EA3A89D&
 
Movement for Democratic Change says Roy Bennett was due to be sworn in
as deputy agriculture minister, but was arrested Friday by state
security agents at Prince Charles airport outside Harare 
The party of Zimbabwe's new prime minister says a ministerial nominee
has been arrested just before ministers were to be sworn in to a
power-sharing government. The Movement for Democratic Change
says Roy Bennett was due to be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister,
but that he was arrested Friday by state security agents at the Prince
Charles airport outside Harare. Police officials were not immediately
available for comment. Bennett
had been living in South Africa after fleeing Zimbabwe two years ago.
Police wanted him for questioning in connection with the discovery of
an arms cache. Morgan Tsvangirai (l) leader of the main opposition party
in Zimbabwe takes the oath of Prime Minster, in front of President
Robert Mugabe (r) at the State House in Harare, 11 Feb 2009MDC leader
Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in
Wednesday after months of wrangling over details on how to share power
with long-time leader President Robert Mugabe. The agreement came amid
worsening economic conditions and the continued detention of several
activists close to the MDC.President
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party will have 15 posts in the new government and
factions of the former opposition, which won legislative elections last
year, will have 16.Mr. Tsvangirai refused to participate in a
runoff second round presidential vote, saying conditions were not
right for a fair and peaceful vote. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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