HARARE , Zimbabwe ( CNN ) -- Zimbabwe police arrested on Friday a magistrate who ordered the release of a senior opposition politician granted bail by the country 's High Court , a lawyer said . A Zimbabwean policeman patrols outside the entrance of Mutare Magistrates court . The order to release the politician had been suspended when state lawyers appealed the HIgh Court decision . Trust Maanda , a lawyer in Mutare city about 300 kilometers ( 186 miles ) east of Harare , told CNN by phone that magistrate Livingstone Chipadze had been arrested . `` He is in police custody . The police are saying he ordered the release of Roy Bennett in compliance with the High Court ruling , '' said Maanda . Bennett is the choice of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC ) for deputy agriculture minister under the power-sharing government formed last month . On Wednesday , Chipadze ordered Bennett be released from a prison in Mutare as had been ruled by the High Court last week . However , that order , which required Bennett to post $ 2,000 as bail , was suspended after the state filed an appeal with Zimbabwe 's Supreme Court . `` I can confirm the arrest , but I will be in position to tell you the charge he will face later , '' said a police official in Mutare over the phone . `` He is likely to go to court on Saturday or Monday . But most magistrates here [ in Mutare ] have gone on strike over his arrest . '' Chipadze joins Bennett in prison in Mutare . Bennett was arrested on February 13 and is facing charges of possessing arms for the purposes of banditry , terrorism and sabotage . The continued detention of Bennett , an ally of MDC leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai , is seen by many as a crack in the foundation of the coalition Tsvangirai formed with President Robert Mugabe . Meanwhile , a Zimbabwe High Court judge Friday ordered the immediate release of three human rights activists in state `` safe custody '' to testify against human rights activist Jestina Mukoko , who is facing charges of plotting to topple Mugabe . Opposition MDC activists Fannie Tembo , Lloyd Tarumbwa and Terry Musona have been missing since October last year after they were abducted from their homes under the cover of darkness . Lawyers Chris Mhike and Innocent Chagonda took the state to the High Court in an attempt to win the release the trio . But the state represented by Nelson Mutsonziwa had opposed the application , saying the three would be state witnesses when the trial of Mukoko starts . The MDC lawyers then successfully argued that the three were bread winners for their families and the state had not provided their families with assistance while they are in custody . Delivering the judgment , Justice Ben Hlatswayo said , `` I order the immediate release of Fannie Tembo , Lloyd Tarumbwa and Terry Musona from police custody or the custody of any other state agent . This order stands enforceable notwithstanding the noting or filing of an appeal . '' Relatives of the three who were milling around the High Court could not hide their joy after Mhike told them of Hlatswayo 's ruling .
Magistrate who released a senior opposition politician arrested . High Court had ordered politican released , but decision was suspended . Score: 6 In separate decision , High Court ordered release of three human rights activists .