It is very difficult to convince anyone that the Global Alliance for Zimbabwe, formed by Movement for Democratic Change treasurer-general Roy Bennett to raise campaign funds for the country’s main opposition and registered in Washington DC, did not do so because it had a powerful, high profile board and roped in the best American lobbyists.
Though The Insider could not establish the full board because the GAZ website had been pulled down mid-way through this story, Bennett was listed as the chairman.
His profile read: “Better known as ‘Pachedu’ (‘between us’) by the Zimbabwean people, Roy Bennett is a third generation Zimbabwean and the current treasurer general for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Despite intimidation waged against voters by ZANU-PF, Roy was elected to the Zimbabwean Parliament in 2000 where he served the Chimanimani region. In 2004, ZANU-PF seized his farm and beat, raped, and killed his workers.
“As a result of the trauma, Roy’s wife lost their third child. Jailed and later forced to flee the country by ZANU-PF, Roy finally returned to his homeland in 2009. Soon after, he was charged with ‘treason’ and jailed for a second time. He was named the Deputy Minister of Agriculture within the joint MDC/ZANU-PF power-sharing government—but Mugabe has refused to ratify his appointment and Roy again escaped into exile in late 2010. Whilst in exile, Roy was deployed by the Standing Committee in March 2011 to head up a Global Advocacy Campaign that has resulted in the formation of this alliance—the Global Alliance for Zimbabwe.”
Bennett’s deputy was listed as: Honorable Larry LaRocco.
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