Bennett wins asylum appeal (AFP)

JOHANNESBURG - Former Zimbabwe oppositionlawmaker Roy Bennett said yesterday he had finally won asylum in South Africa -the first senior Zimbabwe political figure to succeed.

The "happy" Bennett, who has been in the countryfor more than a year now, said Home Affairs gave him the asylum papers onFriday after the Refugees Appeal Board overruled a decision by the governmentto deny him asylum.

"I am very happy that it is finally over, and ithas been granted," the former Movement for Democratic Change Member ofParliament said.

"I was very disturbed in the beginning when myapplication was refused, even though it was very clear-cut and evident that mylife was in danger because of my political beliefs," he said.

"The South African constitution is very clear onmy situation, and I was very suprised when it took so long."

Despite his genuine evidence of persecution backin Zimbabwe, Bennett has been struggling to get asylum in South Africa since heapplied in March last year.

He fled from Zimbabwe fearing for his life afterthe government accused him and several other opposition officials in an allegedassassination plot against President Robert Mugabe in March 2006.

Bennett was sentenced to a year in jail back inOctober 2004 after he pushed Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa during anargument in parliament.

But the MDC treasurer, who is driving hiscountry's opposition struggle in South Africa, says he would love to go back toZimbabwe one day.

"With the political situation in the countrynow, it will be difficult for me to go back. But I am looking forward toreturning one day," he said.

Bennett says his asylum status has no conditionsattached, and will be reviewed after two years.

"I came to SA because I am an African, andZimbabwe is an African problem," Bennett said.

- AFP.