A Zimbabwean court has ordered the release of prominent human rights lawyer Alec Muchadehama after spending a night in police custody, a move interpreted as “intimidation” by other lawyers.

Harare magistrate Archie Wochiunga released Muchadehama on US$100 bail, and ordered him to report to police once every Friday and not to interfere with state witnesses. He ordered Muchadehama to return to court on 29 May.

“We believe that this is continuous harassment of human rights defenders. Clearly when prosecutors, magistrates and judges are being arrested on a day to day basis for doing their work that has a chilling effect on other human rights defenders. Its clearly intimidation. We will not able to do our work as we are supposed to do,” said Beatrice Mtetwa who is representing Muchadehama in the matter.

The state is alleging that Muchadehama caused the release of freelance journalist Andreson Manyere, and two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials when he was aware that the state had been granted leave to appeal against the granting of bail to the three men.

Mtetwa said the release of the three men was above board because Muchadehama had written to the High Court and to the Attorney General who did not contest their release.

After his release, Muchadehama said the state’s actions were calculated to “destroy the lawyers work and justice.”

“The charges are meaningless. They need to realize that justice and the rule of law are here to stay,” said Muchadehama.