The Zambian government on Thursday defended its decision to deny Zimbabwe's opposition leader asylum, saying there was no breakdown of law and order in that country.

Tendai Biti, a senior member of the Movement for Democratic Change alliance, was handed back to the Zimbabwe authorities early Thursday after his attempt to seek asylum was denied by the Zambian authorities.

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said the Zambian government denied the opposition figure asylum as the lives of citizens in that country were not under threat.

But the Zimbabwean leader's legal team has expressed shock that the Zambian authorities disregarded a court order granted by a Zambian court not to deport him, according to local media.

A high court judge in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, granted the Zimbabwe opposition leader an application to stay the deportation on Wednesday night, it was reported.

In a statement, the Zambian government spokesperson said the immigration authorities did not disregard the court order before handing him to Zimbabwe authorities as the order had not yet been served at the time he was being handed over.