NZ demands release of jailed Zimbabwe MP

Foreign Minister Phil Goff has demanded Zimbabwe release Opposition MP Roy Bennett, who has been jailed for a year with hard labour for pushing a minister during a parliamentary debate.

Zimbabwe's Parliament has the right to sit as a court and impose penalties of up to two years in jail.

But Mr Goff said Mr Bennett's sentence was harsh and raised concerns the Zimbabwe government was trying to stifle and intimidate Opposition politicians.

He was also concerned about reports the MP was being mistreated in custody.

Mr Bennett reportedly charged at and pushed to the ground Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa after he called Mr Bennett's father and grandfather thieves and murderers who deserved to lose their land because it was wrongfully taken from black Zimbabweans in the first place.

Mr Chinamasa was not hurt and Mr Bennett apologised at the time for his actions.

Mr Goff said in a statement that while Mr Bennett's behaviour was against that parliament's rules, his actions were the culmination of years of political persecution aimed at the Opposition MDC Party, the MP, his family and employees.

It had been reported Mr Bennett's family and his farm managers were evicted from their land in April, and that many of his employees had been killed, raped or shot. Mr Bennett had been assaulted three times and jailed twice. Despite six court orders, the land had not been returned.

Mr Goff said he had written to the Speaker of Zimbabwe's Parliament Emmerson Mnangagwa raising New Zealand's concerns and urging the Mugabe government to release Mr Bennett.

- NZPA