Zimbabwe opposition leader Job Sikhala released from jail

Zimbabwe opposition leader Job Sikhala is a free man.

Sikhala, who was the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP for Zengeza West in Chitungwiza – a dormitory town outside Harare – was arrested and jointly charged with another former CCC MP Godfrey Sithole of publishing a video inciting violence.

Harare magistrate Tafadzwa Miti, last week ruled that the State had managed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt and found Sikhala guilty.

“The evidence did not establish beyond reasonable doubt that the first accused [Sikhala] did not put the videos but this doesn’t mean that an offence was not committed.

“From the evidence, it is beyond any doubt that the accused is the one who uttered the words in the video,” the magistrate said.

However on Tuesday, in handing down judgment, Sikhala received two-year wholly suspended terms for inciting violence.

Job Sikhala’s fate with prison walls

The firebrand politician nicknamed Wiwa has had a long brush with prison walls. He has been arrested more than 60 times on politically-related charges.

In the latest case, Sikhala, 51, was convicted on 3 May 2023 for obstruction of justice. He had been arrested on 14 June 2022 after attending a funeral of a political activist, Moreblessing Ali.

Ali went missing for three weeks only for her body to be found mutilated.

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After speaking at the funeral the outspoken Sikhala was found guilty of fuelling tensions and inciting violence, subsequently receiving a suspended six months sentence with an option of paying about R11300 or spending six months in jail.

However, he was kept in prison and denied bail – and remained locked up for close to two years – because he faced two other charges of incitement to commit violence and disorderly conduct. He has been held at Chikurubi Maximum-security Prison since June 2022.