“I am deeply concerned by the jailing of Roy Bennett.  This appears again to be a selective use of Zimbabwe’s justice system by Robert Mugabe and his allies to undercut democratic reformers.  Bennett’s detention casts a dark cloud over the Global Political Agreement and threatens to disrupt the progress that has been made by the transitional government.  His prosecution and the arrest of more than a dozen MDC parliamentarians over recent months call into question ZANU-PF’s commitment to genuinely sharing power and implementing democratic reforms.  ZANU-PF should immediately take steps to demonstrate a genuine commitment in that regard.  If they do not, I will work with the Obama administration to explore ways we and our international partners can ramp up pressure on those hardliners in the government obstructing the Global Political Agreement.”

Senator Feingold is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs.  He has been actively engaged on the situation in Zimbabwe since he visited the country in 1999.  He was blocked by the government from returning in 2002.  Feingold chaired a hearing on September 30^th entitled “Exploring U.S. Policy Options toward Zimbabwe’s Transition.”  His opening statement at that hearing can be read online here.