Message of hope arrived in Zimbabwe

CFP ^ | January 13, 2005 | Judi McLeod

[MikeEdwards]

If you are one of the average Canadians or Americans who responded to Canadafreeepress.com’s request for emails of hope and encouragement to Heather Bennett during the recent holidays, it worked.

As the months of her husband MP Roy Bennett’s imprisonment by the Robert Mugabe Government wore on, Heather, facing life without him, was getting depressed and discouraged.

Just before December 25, there was a surge in incoming emails from North America to FreeRoyBennett.com, and it made Heather and her two children feel a little less alone.

"We take it one day at a time. We try to be positive but it’s not easy," a grateful Heather told Canada Free Press in a telephone interview from Zimbabwe yesterday.

Without a court trial, Roy Bennett began one year’s hard labour in prison on October 28.

"He’s lost so much weight. They only feed them twice a day. Just one cup of rice and one serving of cabbage stew, no meat. I am so worried about him," Heather told CFP.

Time hangs heavy for the anxious wife who is permitted to see her husband just twice a month, and only for 10 minutes per visit.

Roy Bennett, the only white farmer Member of Parliament in Zimbabwe’s opposition, is being forced to work long hours under the hot Zimbabwe sun. Badly blistered, he is covered with body lice.

There was no court of law to take testimony for the crime of which he was accused. Bennett was tried and sentenced by the same people who have harassed and tormented his family and workers ever since his election: the Robert Mugabe government–the only law in current day Zimbabwe. . . . .

[Clive]

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[topher]

I disagree with the following in the article:

the Robert Mugabe government–the only law in current day Zimbabwe. . . . .

More like there is only the lawless government of Robert Mugabe that keeps Zimbabwe in such a desparate situation -- people starving to death.