'Gunmen open fire' on Zanu-PF defector

Opposition MPS have made persistent claims of attempts on their lives

Thabo Kunene BBC correspondent in Zimbabwe

An opposition MP in Zimbabwe has been telling the BBC about an attempt to kill him, the second such attempt in eight months, he says.

The man in question is Mtoliki Sibanda, who is the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) parliamentarian for Tsholotsho constituency in Matabeleland north province.

It's a waste of time making a report to the police because they will never protect us.

Mtoliki Sibanda, opposition MP

Mr Mtoliki Sibanda said he had fled his constituency and was now in hiding at a secret location on the outskirts of the Matabeleland capital, Bulawayo.

Mr Sibanda defected from Zanu-PF a few weeks before the 2000 parliamentary elections and joined the MDC. He was appointed the party's candidate and beat his bitter rival Cain Mathema.

Grace of God

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Sibanda said he survived the assassination attempt only through the grace of God.

"Had it not been for God, I would be dead by now", he said at his hiding place.

Mr Sibanda was still in a state of panic and he said he feared for his children who are still in his rural home at Jumila village in Tsholotsho.

He claimed that last week, a group of hit men were dispatched to his village to kill him.

According to the MP, he survived because the would be assassins opened fire at the wrong car, a Nissan Hardbody similar to his own.

Death list

The people who were in the vehicle which was mistakenly hit by the attackers are said to have suffered serious injuries.

Some war veterans in the constituency who are sympathetic to the MP have reportedly advised him not to visit his constituency again because he was still on the death list.

When asked why he had not reported the matter to the police, he said police in Zimbabwe have never acted or investigated shooting incidents involving opposition officials.

He said: "It's a waste of time making a report to the police because, they will never protect us."