The former Zimbabwean president Canaan Banana yesterday lost an appeal against his convictions for sexual assault and gay sex offences and was ordered to serve a year in jail. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but with nine years suspended. The supreme court ordered him to serve a year in jail, with a second year suspended.
Homosexual acts are illegal in Zimbabwe.
Ms Bennett said Banana could make a last-ditch appeal for clemency from President Robert Mugabe. Banana, who is married with four adult children, is a former Methodist minister and was president for seven years until 1987. Last year's convictions followed a sensational trial in which one of his former aides, Jefta Dube, said he was forced into a homosexual relationship with Banana. Mr Dube was jailed for 10 years for that murder. During the trial, Mr Dube described how Banana drank, danced and played cards with him before drugging and raping him in the presidential State House library.