Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) -- A Zimbabwean High Court judge postponed the trial of Roy Bennett, an ally of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, on charges of terrorism until Nov. 11, his lawyer said.

Judge Chinembiri Bhunu postponed the trial so he could consider a defense motion to have a prosecution witness removed from the case, Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said in a telephone interview from Harare, the capital.

Bennett, the 52-year-old treasurer of Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change party, was accused by police of storing weapons in the eastern city of Mutare. His arrest sparked the temporary suspension of the MDC’s participation in a coalition government with President Robert Mugabe’s party.

The charges against Bennett “are driven by vindictive and malicious political motives,” MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said today in a phone interview from Harare.

Tsvangirai, who resumed participation in the power-sharing administration on Nov. 6, nominated Bennett to be deputy agricultural minister in the coalition government.

Bennett, a former coffee farmer, was first arrested on Feb. 13, the day Mugabe swore in a cabinet that included MDC members. He was released on bail of $5,000 on March 12. Bennett was again jailed Oct. 14 and freed two days later on a judge’s order.

The attorney general’s office, which is pressing the charges, didn’t answer calls today seeking comment on the case.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Latham in Johannesburg at blatham@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 9, 2009 08:09 EST