Justice officials in Zimbabwe have dropped charges of illegal grain hoarding against Roy Bennett, an important ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

On 10 May, the country's Supreme Court will decide whether or not to withdraw the charges of robbery, sabotage and terrorist activities also laid against him.

Mr Bennett is a white politician and treasurer of Morgan Tsvangirai's party, the MDC, which says the charges against him are politically motivated. It says that its rival, President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF, is behind the accusations. Mr Bennett was put forward by the MDC for the post of agricultural minister in 2009, but was arrested shortly before being sworn in.