Roy Bennett has been a pain in the neck of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front since he joined the Movement for Democratic Change. The party first chased him off his farm, claimed he was involved in an attempt to assassinate President Robert Mugabe, hounded him out of Parliament, forced him into exile, refused to appoint him deputy Minister of Agriculture. But the man, popularly known in Chimanimani as Pachedu, still hangs on as the chief fund-raiser of the MDC. There are 117 cables on him. Here they are.
117-US embassy said Chinamasa was biggest obstacle to reform
116-History of ANC and ZANU-PF not as close as people think
115-Why Mutsekwa and Mohadi worked well together
114-Investors showing renewed interest in Zimbabwe
113-Bennett said MDC is good at campaigning not governing
112-Tomana impeached Hitschmann
111-Did negotiators agree on pirate radio stations?
110-Biti said Mujuru and Mnangagwa are unelectable
109-Tsvangirai said he would not budge on Bennett
108-ZANU-PF not ready for a woman president
107-Gono not formally joining ZANU-PF
106-Judge says Hitschmann’s evidence is inadmissible
105-Bennett’s lawyers challenged judge’s impartiality
104-Lawyer arrested over Bennett testimony
103-SADC was getting impatient with Zimbabwe
102-Biti said Gono was a thief
101-ZANU-PF’s outstanding issues
100-Tomana said Bennett was a national security threat
98-Botswana had serious doubts about Tsvangirai’s leadership
97-Mutambara queried why Mugabe was refusing to swear in Bennett
96-Hungwe most independent judge!
95-Tsvangirai said Bennett was being persecuted because he was white
94-Tsvangirai said ZANU-PF was taking him for a ride
93-MDC pull out in 2009 was all a façade
92-US to work with Mai Mujuru as she might be next president
90-Tsvangirai frustrated but he cannot leave inclusive government
89-Tsvangirai says Mugabe is a tyrant
88-Zimbabwe riskiest investment destination?
87-Zuma to be tougher on Mugabe than Mbeki says Mantashe
86-US embassy said no one is keen on elections
83-Sibotshiwe said Tsvangirai was losing support
82-Politically motivated prosecutions futile
81-Ministers gave principals one week to report on outstanding issues
79-MDC majority threatened by arrests
78-Bennett said villagers spoke about two main issues: Gono and justice
77-Johnnie Carson said Mugabe’s stay in power is infinite
75-Biti, Chamisa piled pressure on Tsvangirai to deal with Mugabe
74-Mtetwa said GPA will not work as long as Tomana is AG
73-Biti described Mugabe as bosom buddy, lambasted Mnangagwa
72-Mugabe denied he had anything against Bennett
71-Tsvangirai’s honeymoon over
70-Meeting flops because no one knows who does what
69-Tsvangirai said Mnangagwa was targetting him
68-Mpofu denied there were deaths at Chiadzwa
67-US ambassador said it was in US interest to support MDC
66-Bennett sworn is as senator but not as minister
65-Bennett freed, magistrate arrested
64-Chinamasa blocked Bennett’s release
62-Bennett granted bail but not released
61-Mugabe outmanoeuvred MDC to increase size of cabinet
60-Roy Bennett the odd one out
59-Donors set conditions to bail out Tsvangirai and Biti
58-Bennett arrested before swearing in
57-Tsvangirai told McGee inclusive government would work
56-Bennett named deputy minister
55-Bennett said the MDC did not want to be seen as the spoiler
54-Three MDC power centres hampered progress
53-Bennett said ZANU-PF leaders are sacrificing Zimbabweans for their avarice
52-MDC advisor said the party will fall apart as soon as Mugabe goes
51-Bennett said Masiyiwa was a control freak
50-Bennett changes mind, upbeat about run-off
49-MDC advisor said Bennett was more emotional than rational
48-Bennett was not prepared for any compromise
47-Bennett said Zimbabweans in the diaspora were divided and tribalist
46-Makoni said Tsvangirai was influenced too much by Masiyiwa and Bennett
45-MDC campaign funds used by party bigwigs!
44-Makoni said Tsvangirai was influenced too much by Masiyiwa and Bennett
43-Bennett predicted shock victory for MDC in 2008
42-Mbeki gave Mugabe three options before 2008 elections
41-Bennett said US funded Mbeki campaign against Zuma
40-Bennett suggested using IDAZIM as vehicle for funding
39-Bennett “over the moon” with Tsvangirai’s leadership
38-Bennett planned to retire if MDC did not win 2008 elections
37-USAID funded MDC officials’ trip to SADC summit in Lusaka
36-Mutsekwa said army was disenchanted with Mugabe
35-Botswana wanted to “take the gloves off” with Mugabe
34-ZANU-PF fails to turn up for talks
33-Bennett kept million-dollar funding to MDC secret to keep vultures at bay
32-Bennett claimed South Africa funded Mutambara faction
31-Chikane said Mugabe was a madman
30-Bennett frustrated by ethnic divisions within MDC in South Africa
29-Tsvangirai said Bennett’s exile was good for fund-raising
28-Biti said Bennett was culturally Zimbabwean
27-South Africa initially denied Bennett asylum
26-Bennett earmarked for fundraising
25-MDC elected Bennett treasurer in absentia
23-Bennett implicated in Mugabe assassination plot
22-Bennett arrested on arms charges
21-Bennett was determined to get rid of Tsvangirai’s kitchen cabinet
20-Bennett, Biti and Coltart were disappointed with both Tsvangirai and Ncube
19-Bennett, Biti and Coltart were disappointed with both Tsvangirai and Ncube
18-Tsvangirai said Bennett needed strategic vision
17-Bennett said Tsvangirai was the MDC’s only chance
16-Biti asked: Why should Tsvangirai be held to a higher standard?
14-Three ways to steal an election
12-Court ruled Bennett was eligible for election
11-Bennett barred from contesting elections
10-MDC thought it could win 85 seats in 2005
9-Arda sold Bennett’s coffee for $200 000
8-ZANU-PF opens election space
7-ZANU-PF demonstrated against Bennett for beating up Chinamasa
6-Bennett organised workshop to assess MDC leadership
5-Bennett said his farm workers were being held at ransom
3-Bennett said MDC groups sold each other out
2-Bennett arrested during spate of violence and intimidation
1-Bennett said hard-line elements in ZANU-PF can be very unpredictable
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