Zimbabwe PM's ally goes on trial for terrorism

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's ally Roy Bennett went on trial accused of terrorism on Monday in a case that has stoked tensions in the unity government of Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

After initial arguments, the trial was adjourned to Wednesday by High Court Judge Muchineripi Bhunu to allow time to consider applications made by the state and defence.

Bennett, whom Tsvangirai wants to bring into the government, was arrested in February and charged with illegally possessing arms to commit acts of terrorism, banditry and insurgency, charges that carry a possible death penalty.

The state brought several cases of ammunition and rifles to be presented as evidence into the court in Harare on Monday.

"This is a very serious matter which must be awarded the amount of seriousness it demands," Zimbabwe's Attorney-General Johannes Tomana told the court.

Bhunu will rule on Wednesday on a state application to dismiss Bennett's defence outline after state lawyers argued it was improperly presented. He will also rule on an application by the defence to stop a key state witness from testifying.

Before the adjournment, a tense-looking Bennett sat in the dock, at times with his head bowed.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says the case is politically motivated and the party briefly boycotted the unity government after Bennett, a white former coffee farmer, was detained in prison following his indictment for trial.