Fears have been expressed for the safety of MDC Alliance co-leader Tendai Biti, who was arrested on Wednesday on the Zambian border as he tried to seek asylum from Zimbabwe's neighbour following threats of arrest at home.

Tendai Biti's lawyer, Nqobizitha Mlilo has confirmed the arrest of his client, indicating that by Wednesday afternoon Biti was still being held at the border.

Mlilo told Daily Maverick that Biti decided to flee to Zambia after his mother's house was surrounded by unknown men and his life was threatened.

Biti is accused of having flouted Zimbabwean electoral law by "unofficially and unlawfully" announcing MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa as the duly elected president of Zimbabwe.

He is in police custody and will be transported back to Harare.

Biti may also face charges relating to the violence that erupted in the capital a day after the election and in which seven people were killed.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) initially arrested 27 protesters who have since been released on bail.

Following those arrests it has turned its gaze towards senior MDC-Alliance...