THE arrest and detention of Law Society of Zimbabwe president Sternford Moyo and its executive secretary Wilbert Mapombere has been widely condemned as further evidence of repression by the government as it attempts to silence critical voices.

The United States government has said it is considering fresh measures against President Mugabe's regime. The two officials were arrested on June 3 under the Public Order and Security Act (Posa) in connection with letters they are alleged to have written encouraging public protest. They appeared in court yesterday and were remanded to August 1 on $20 000 bail each.

The United States Department of State has condemned the arrests and said it was reviewing additional measures aimed at bringing pressure to bear on Zimbabwe's leadership.

"We are consulting with others in the international community who are similarly concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe," the State Department said.

The New York-based Lawyers Committee for Human Rights has condemned the arrest and detention.

"Since the March 2002 election, President Mugabe has increased his repression of political opposition leaders and supporters, independent journalists, human rights defenders and others who dare criticise his regime," it said.

The International Bar Association added its voice in deploring the arrests. "The IBA believes that the searches of the home of Sternford Moyo and the offices of the LSZ, and the subsequent arrests are directly related to the strong stance taken by Moyo on issues relating to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary," said spokesperson Esther Major.

In Harare the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) criticised the police for harassing the two lawyers.

"On the information available to us at this time, it would seem that the action by the police is part of the general harassment of persons and institutions who are calling for accountability in Zimbabwe," the LRF said.

"The police action appears to be vindictive and we query whether it was justified. It also appears to have been deliberately designed to humiliate and traumatise the two lawyers as well as intimidate the legal profession as a whole and silence the Law Society from persuing a principled stance on the administration of justice in Zimbabwe," the LRF said.