Zimbabwe: Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa denied bail Published duration 20 March 2013

image caption Beatrice Mtetwa's arrest has been condemned by international lawyers

A Zimbabwean court has refused bail to prominent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, saying she was a flight risk.

Bail was was also denied to four aides of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who appeared in leg irons in the dock.

Ms Mtetwa, who was born in Swaziland, raised her fist in defiance after the court ruled she should stay in jail until 3 April - after the Easter break.

The group was arrested on Sunday, after the referendum on a new constitution that strengthens civil liberties.

The constitution was approved by nearly 95% of voters on Saturday after it was supported by Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party and Presidenther next court appearance on 3 April because she faced a serious charge.

She could interfere with police investigations if she was freed on bail, the magistrate said.

Ms Mtetwa was also a flight risk because she held a foreign passport, Ms Gofa ruled.

Those detained with Ms Mtetwa are Thabani Mpofu, Felix Mpofu, Mehluli Tshuma and Warship Dumba.

They have been charged with impersonating policemen, while Mr Mpofu faces the additional charge of possessing an illegal firearm, our reporter says.

The arrests were condemned by legal groups, including the International Commission of Jurists and the Pan African Lawyers Union, on Monday.

"Without a clear and unambiguous departure from a past characterised by harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders and of impunity for Zimbabwe's police and security sector, the promise of the new