Judge orders Mugabe opponent held until after election

A judge today ordered Zimbabwe’s deputy opposition leader held on treason and other charges until after the election.

The Movement for Democratic Change says that the case against its secretary-general Tendai Biti is also part of a government plot to undermine it before the election.

But after hearing arguments from prosecutors and defence lawyers over the last two days, Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe ruled that there were grounds to believe Mr Biti had committed an offence and ordered him held until another hearing set for July 7 while police continue their investigations.

Yesterday Mr Biti was formally charged with treason, publishing false statements, insulting the president and another charged related to interfering with the military.