Zimbabwe opposition leader to be charged on Tuesday

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- A jailed Zimbabwean opposition party official will be formally charged with treason and other offenses on Tuesday after "a lot of paperwork" delayed his court appearance on treason charges by a day, a police official said.

Lawyers for Tendai Biti, the secretary-general of the Movement for Democratic Change, had demanded his release after he was not brought to court on Monday.

"We've since explained that to his lawyers and they are happy with the explanation," the official said.

Attorney Christopher Mhike said under Zimbabwean law, Biti was required to be charged in Magistrate's court by Monday. Mhike accepted the decision to delay the appearance until Tuesday, but was not "happy" with it, as the police official said. Learn more about Zimbabwe »

Biti faces charges of treason, which could carry the death penalty, and disseminating malicious falsehoods. The charges relate to a document published by the MDC before the March 29 presidential election, according to Zimbabwe national police.

He was arrested on Thursday as he arrived in the Zimbabwean capital on a flight from South Africa. His lawyers were initially not told where Biti was being held after he was arrested. A warrant had been issued for his arrest on June 6, when he was abroad.

Police on Monday searched Biti's home for more than three hours, according to an MDC statement which called it "harassment."

"Clearly the police are on fishing expedition," the statement said.

Police arrested Biti on Thursday as he arrived in the Zimbabwean capital on a flight from South Africa. A warrant had been issued for his arrest on June 6, while he was abroad.

His lawyers were not told where Biti was being held after he was arrested.

Biti made an initial court appearance on Saturday after his attorneys filed several court orders demanding the appearance. Wearing leg irons, Biti appeared "dejected and dull," according to a reporter in the courtroom.

After the court proceeding, Biti was returned to police custody. He is being held at Matapi Police Station, in Mbare, the oldest suburb of the capital city.

"Obviously, he was depressed because they are [holding] him for no reason, really," said George Sibotshiwe, spokesman for MDC leader and presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.

Sibotshiwe, who was detained for three hours himself on Saturday with Tsvangirai and 10 other people, called the charges against Biti, "ridiculous."

However, he said, "We are happy with his appearance," but alleged that he was not being fed.

Though reports of violence have been common in Zimbabwe, there has been a significant uptick in attacks since the elections, which resulted in a bitter standoff.

A presidential runoff election has been set for June 27 pitting longtime President Robert Mugabe against Tsvangirai. There have been numerous reports from the opposition and church groups about kidnappings, torture and other violence, including the deaths of opposition party members. They say the violence targets opponents of Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party. Watch Mugabe say he'll fight to keep is party in power »

Speaking at a campaign rally Monday, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe blamed his political opponents for pre-election violence and threatened to arrest the Movement for Democratic Change leadership.

Tsvangirai has been detained several times in the weeks leading up to the runoff election -- most recently on Saturday with the 11 others.

National police arrested the dozen MDC members at a roadblock near Shurungwi, according to a party spokesman.

"We shall never, never accept anything that smells of ... the MDC," Mugabe said Saturday. "These pathetic puppets taking over this country? Let's see. That is not going to happen."

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