Top opposition politician in Zimbabwe, Tendai Biti has been released after his earlier arrest on Wednesday.
His earlier arrest was 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.
The opposition politician was not charged formally but he is believed to be part of a list of opposition supporters being hunted by the police.
His lawyer, Denford Halimani however says his client has been released although details are still scanty, AP reports.
According to the BBC, about 300 Zimbabwean travellers blocked government’s security officers from arresting Biti at the border.
Biti is now in Zambia where he is seeking asylum. But the BBC reports that Zambia’s Foreign Minister Joe Malanji says Biti’s asylum request has been turned down.
While the junta & its running dogs are gloating over reports of the arrest of @BitiTendai at the Chirundu Zimbabwe/Zambia border, the good news is that he is safe and now on his way to Lusaka where he’ll be afforded an urgent asylum hearing, in accordance with international law! pic.twitter.com/NbMNSCAzW7
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) August 8, 2018
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.
The MDC has said it will challenge the election results in court this week.
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.
Source: Africafeeds.com
