Zimbabwe police have arrested a top opposition politician, Tendai Biti. The arrest on Wednesday is part of an ongoing clampdown on persons alleged to have caused last week’s election violence.
Biti, a former finance minister and a member of the MDC alliance was arrested while trying to flee the country through the border with Zambia.
His lawyer said Biti was trying to seek asylum in neighboring Zambia.
Lawyer Nqobizitha Mlilo revealed that his client was arrested after presenting himself to Zambian immigration officials at Chirundu border post.
Biti has not been charged formally but he is believed to be part of a list of opposition supporters being hunted by the police.
Why are opposition activists wanted?
The Zimbabwe police unit mounted a search for Biti and other opposition activists for allegedly inciting their members to protest last week.
The opposition MDC supporters were disputing the presidential election results which confirmed President Emmerson Mnangagwa as winner.
Police are now searching for nine senior officials of the opposition MDC Alliance with a warrant issued for them.
Tendai Biti arrested by citizens trying to cross over to Zambia to seek asylum. What happened to leading from the front. You can’t incite other people’s kids and then run @KRangarirai @hwende @daddyhope @matigary @Wamagaisa pic.twitter.com/pmMJm9Z08N
— Lloyd Msipa?? (@LloydMsipa) August 8, 2018
On Tuesday 27 supporters of the opposition were freed by a court. Their lawyers have now succeeded with a bail application which was earlier denied.
They were arrested last week following the eruption of violence leading to the death of six people.
Soldiers reportedly shot into the protesters resulting in the deaths. But prosecutors claim the protesters were to blame for the deaths.
Meanwhile the leadership of the Zimbabwe opposition says some of its activists are still missing.
The party’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda alleges that abductions and raids have taken place.
He said these are acts intended to intimidate the MDC from challenging the elections results.
Source: Africafeeds.com
