By Talent Gondo| Zambia’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson, Dora Siliya has revealed that her government denied asylum to MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti because Zimbabwe was a stable country whose recently held harmonised elections had been declared free and fair by SADC.

Siliya said the deportation was also premised on the fact that “there existed no threat to the lives of Zimbabwean citizens”.

However, she did not disclose why the Zambian government had defied an order from its own high court to stay all deportation procedures until the matter was heard at the High Court a development which saw Zambia handing over Biti to the Zimbabwean authorities.

Writing on Twitter, Siliya said,

“Govt denied Tendai Biti asylum because no breakdown of law and order in Zimbabwe. Citizens lives not under threat reason no influx of asylum seekers. SADC said elections free and fair. Post-election violence suspects (6 died) to appear before courts and is internal matter.”

Govt denied Tendai Biti asylum because no breakdown of law & order in Zimbabwe. Citizens lives not under threat reason no influx of asylum seekers. SADC said elections free and fair. Post election violence suspects (6 died) to appear before courts and is internal matter.

— Dora Siliya (@Dora_Siliya) August 9, 2018