The Democratic Alliance has welcomed a Zimbabwe court decision to release that country's opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

"He should never have been arrested in the first place," DA national chairperson Joe Seremane said in a statement.

The court ordered Tsvangirai's release on bail yesterday, after two weeks of detention on treason charges.

In its ruling, the court also said it was restricting what political statements Tsvangirai could make.

Seremane said Tsvangirai's arrest and two-week incarceration was nothing less than state intimidation of the opposition, and a vicious assault on democracy in Zimbabwe.

"How can anyone believe that (President Robert) Mugabe is committed to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in his country?" It was not difficult to understand why the MDC resorted to mass action, considering the terribly uneven political playing field on which they were forced to function.

"The MDC only rejected, and is contesting, Mugabe's win in last year's presidential poll, whereas Mugabe and Zanu-PF reject the notion that the voters have a right to choose the MDC to govern their country.

"For there to be genuine dialogue and fruitful negotiations in Zimbabwe, the legitimacy of the MDC and its leader as rightful stakeholders in the future of Zimbabwe must be recognised and respected," Seremane said. – Sapa.