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...
Opposition Leader Biti Challenges Court's Jurisdiction
Mnangagwa's Biti Tweet Raises Eyebrows
AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 150 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.