Job Sikhala
By Dickson Bandera
In what appears to be Zimbabwe’s most-awaited court sentence in recent years, firebrand opposition politician, Job “Wiwa” Sikala has been set free after the magistrate presiding over his case handed down a wholly suspended 2 year sentence this Tuesday afternoon.
Sikala was jointly charged with another opposition politician, Godfrey Sithole for inciting violence in a case that occurred in June 2022.
After a full trial, the two were convicted last Monday and appeared for their sentencing this Tuesday afternoon, with multitudes of opposition party supporters thronging the courts in solidarity with Sikhala.
During Sikhala’s trial, the State managed to prove that on the 12th of June 2022 Job Sikhala posted a video on various social media platforms encouraging members of the public to engage in acts of violence in order to seek revenge for the death of Moreblessing Ali who was murdered in Nyatsime, Beatrice.
He, together with Godfrey Sithole went on to provide transport to ferry members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)
political party from Chitungwiza and Epworth to Nyatsime where they engaged
in acts of violence. The State said the accused persons drove around Nyatsime persuading members of the public to take part in these acts of violence.
As as result, members of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) they went to Chibhanguza Shopping Centre in Nyatsime and assaulted members of public and known supporters of the ZANU PF political party as well as vandalizing shops and beerhalls. The CCC members also went and terrorized residents around the Nyatsime area destroying houses and damaging several vehicles in the process.
Sikala was taken back to prison for clearance and will be released within the next 48 hours.
