Zimbabwe – MDC leader Tendai Biti gets court order to stay in Zambia

Zimbabwean opposition figure Tendai Biti has allegedly been deported from Zambia where he was seeking political asylum.

Lusaka High Court Judge Gertrude Chawatama last night signed an Order against Zambia’s Immigration Department attempt to deport Biti back to Zimbabwe.

Biti had applied to the Court contending that under both Zambian law and international laws, he was entitled to seek asylum.

He said he had an opportunity to appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs if his application was rejected by the Immigration Department.

He also stated that under international law, he a right of safe passage to a third country of his choice if Zambia refused his application.

But when Biti’s lawyers went to serve Immigration officials at Chirundu border, Zambian authorities allegedly refused to recognize the Judgment from the High Court and proceeded to hand Biti to Zimbabwean authorities around 04am.

And the Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs stated, “ I’ve been in contact with @usembassyharare and @usembassyzambia. We are deeply troubled by credible reports that opposition supporters are being targeted by members of the Zimbabwean security forces, which has led senior opposition leader Tendai Biti to seek safe haven in Zambia”