Jailed Zimbabwean human rights lawyer speaks out on South 2 North

This Friday on South 2 North, Al Jazeera’s new global talk show broadcast from Johannesburg, Redi Tlhabi discusses the worldwide plight of refugees with activists from Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Myanmar.

This week’s guests include Rwandan human rights lawyer Kennedy Gihana and Myanmar human rights activist Maung Tun Khin, who is on a worldwide tour to raise awareness about human rights abuses in the country also known as Burma. The third guest is Zimbabwean human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtwetwa, who was arrested by Zimbabwean police just days after recording the show in Johannesburg.

Beatrice has been called “the bravest lawyer in Africa” for her work over two decades defending the many activists, opposition candidates and farmers jailed by Robert Mugabe’s government.

She was arrested on Sunday, 17 March 2013, for “obstructing the course of justice” while attempting to come to the aid of her clients – MDC-T officials Thabani Mpofu, Felix Matsinde, Anna Muzvidziwa and Worship Dumba. Despite an order for her release from the High Court of Zimbabwe, her lawyers have been unable to secure her release, as she’s been moved from one police station to another.

Before her arrest, Beatrice visited South 2 North’s Johannesburg studio to discuss July’s upcoming Zimbabwean elections; the way that human rights abuses have led to a flood of refugees into countries like South Africa; and the South African National Prosecuting Authority and Police Services’ decision to open an investigation into the widespread rape perpetrated in the lead up to Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections.