Harare - Two leading Zimbabwean pro-democracy activists were released Thursday on bail after 21 days in prison.

Jenni Williams (46) and Magodonga Mahlangu (35), leaders of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise group, have been held in a prison in the western city of Bulawayo since October 16, when they were arrested for protesting restrictions by President Robert Mugabe on the distribution of food relief by some agencies.

The women were granted bail by the High Court in Zimbabwe's capital Harare on Wednesday but were only released a day later after prison authorities said the release documents came through too late, their lawyer Kossam Ncube said.

The judge ruled that a magistrate in a lower court last week had "misdirected herself" by refusing the pair bail on the grounds that they might demonstrate again and and cause "violence."

Although Williams has been arrested 33 times for holding peaceful public demonstrations, authorities have failed to successfully prosecute a single case against her or Mahlangu.

Williams has a reputation as the most determined and uncowed of Mugabe's opponents, and has frequently suffered violent assault at the hands of police. (dpa)