Sikhala Hauled out of Prison as Police Add More Charges

Sikhala Hauled out of Prison as Police Add More Charges

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ZIMBABWEAN police on Tuesday 12 July 2022 hauled Zengeza West constituency legislator Hon. Job Sikhala out of Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison and charged him with obstructing or defeating the course of justice.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers took Hon. Sikhala out of Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, where he is currently detained after he was denied bail last week on charges of inciting public violence, and charged him with obstructing or defeating the course of justice as defined in Section 184(1)(e) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

ZRP officers alleged that at an unknown date but during the period extending from 25 May 2022 and 16 June 2022 in Chitungwiza and Nyatsime, the Zengeza West legislator recorded and circulated a video clip wherein he intended to mislead police officers probing the murder of Moreblessing Ali. The law enforcement agents claimed that Hon. Sikhala blamed some ruling ZANU PF party supporters for kidnapping and murdering Ali.

Hon. Sikhala, who was represented by Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Beatrice Mtetwa of Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, was returned to Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after a warned and cautioned statement was recorded from him at Harare Central Police Station.

On Thursday 7 July 2022, Hon. Sikhala and Chitungwiza North constituency legislator Hon. Godfrey Sithole, were denied bail by High Court Judge Justice Anne-Lucy Mungwari, who dismissed their bail appeal after ruling that if released on bail, the two parliamentarians would disturb peace or undermine public order or security.

They had first been denied bail on Wednesday 22 June 2022 by Deputy Chief Magistrate Godfrey Mandaza who ruled that the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) parliamentarians were not suitable to be released from prison pending commencement of their trial as they were repeat offenders, had breached previous bail conditions, were persons of means and had supplied transport to persons who had perpetrated acts of violence. Deputy Chief Magistrate Mandaza further stated that the two legislators were a danger to society hence their release on bail would undermine or jeopardise the bail system.

The two opposition party parliamentarians were arrested on 14 June 2022 by ZRP officers, who charged them with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(a)
as read with section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors alleged that Hon. Sikhala recorded and circulated a video urging people to commit acts of public violence in seeking revenge for the death of Ali, who was murdered in Nyatsime area in Beatrice.

Hon. Sithole and Hon. Sikhala, prosecutors charged, supplied some vehicles which allegedly ferried some CCC party supporters from Chitungwiza and Epworth to Nyatsime, where they attacked some ruling ZANU PF party supporters and also destroyed property at shops and beer halls and looted groceries and electrical gadgets including burning a one-roomed house belonging to George Murambatsvina, the ZANU PF party Councillor for Nyatsime.

 

ENDS

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