ZIMBABWE police brought the opposition Movement for Democratic Change's secretary general to court this morning despite having said earlier that they were not sure his order issued yesterday was genuine. Handcuffed and wearing leg irons, Tendai Biti appeared tense as he was brought into Justice Ben Hlatshwayo's court escorted by an armed policeman. He was wearing a green tracksuit and appeared to be in good health, a reporter at the scene said. Hlatshwayo had given police an hour to produce the secretary general.The judge is due to rule on the legality of his arrest on treason charges.
A reporter who was in the courtroom said Biti looked "dejected and dull" and he said "fine" when reporters asked how he was.
Biti was arrested upon returning to Zimbabwe from neighbouring South Africa Thursday. Police had refused to say where he was being held. Police say he faces a treason charge, which can carry the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Police said the treason charge Biti faces stems from a transition document they say was effectively a blueprint for regime change. He is also accused of spreading false information by releasing the opposition's own results from the first round of harmonized elections. Under Zimbabwean law, only the independent electoral body -- the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission -- is mandated release results.