Bennett: "CIO, Chinamasa botched my application."

Former Zimbabwean MP Roy "Pachedu" Bennett blames Zimbabwe's dreaded CIO and justice minister Patrick Chinamasa for his failed asylum application in South Africa claims a report published in The Zimbabwean.

In a Home Affairs document in the possession of CAJ News, the SA government denied Bennett asylum, saying his claims had not been substantiated.
"After a thorough assessment of your claim and careful scrutiny of all the available information the Refugee Status Determination Officer has come to a conclusion that your testimony does not warrant the granting of refugee status. In consequence thereof your claim has been rejected in terms of Section 24 (3) c. of the Refugee Act of 1998 as unfounded for the reasons stated hereunder," reads the document.
However, Bennett dismissed the Home Affairs' refusal, arguing that there had been manipulation of the process by Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). He said justice minister Patrick Chinamasa had actually flown from Harare to see his South African counterpart over his application.

Bennett, who the MDC has revealed will remain the party's national treasurer, declared his affiliation with the Tsvangirai/anti-senate faction of the MDC claiming that was the only MDC the grassroots people were interested in.

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