Ex-Zimbabwe MP seeks asylum in SA

Roy Bennett was released from prison last year for assaulting a minister

Former Zimbabwe opposition MP Roy Bennett is seeking political asylum in South Africa, his party says.

He went into hiding last month after reports that police were looking for him in connection with an alleged plot to kill President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Bennett, whose coffee farm was seized by the government, was sent to prison in 2004 after pushing a minister during a heated debate on land reform.

A Zimbabwean minister said there was no reason for him to be given asylum.

"We have never persecuted anybody in Zimbabwe," Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi told the AFP news agency.

Human rights and opposition groups say government critics have often been beaten, tortured and even killed in recent years.

'Dead hero'

A spokesman for Mr Bennett's Movement for Democratic Change party said he could continue to work as the party's treasurer from South Africa.

"The regime is after his head. We cannot afford to have a dead hero," said Nelson Chamisa.

Mr Bennett went into hiding in March after police made several arrests after an arms cache was allegedly discovered.

Zimbabwe authorities say the group planned to ambush Mr Mugabe after his 82nd birthday party in February.

The MDC has denied any links to Peter Hitschmann, at whose home the arms were found.

The Zimbabwe authorities claim that Mr Hitschmann is linked to an organisation called the Zimbabwe Freedom Movement, and that this group is seeking to overthrow Mr Mugabe's government.