Justice delayed: Job Sikhala freedom bid flops again
Harare: High Court judge Justice Lucy Mungwari has denied bail to firebrand Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole who have spent more than three incapacitated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
The duo is being accused of inciting violence to avenge the death of their party’s slain activist Moreblessing Ali. Several pro- democracy activists have condemned the development and described it as a ‘travesty of justice’.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) announced the latest development.
“Hon. Sikhala and Hon. Sithole will remain incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after Justice Mungwari dismissed their bail appeal after ruling that if released on bail, the two are likely to disturb public order or undermine public order or security,” ZLHR said.
The two were first denied bail last week by magistrate Gibson Mandaza who argued that the lawmakers were “a threat to public security”.
Moreblessing Ali was abducted by suspected Zanu-PF supporters before her body was found after two weeks cut into pieces and her intestines packed in a plastic bag and thrown into a well at the Beatrice home of claimed Zanu-PF supporter and murder suspect Pius Jamba.
Jamba has since been arrested as the prime suspect in the case.
State alleges that Sikhala incited violence by urging opposition supporters to avenge Ali’s murder in a video which went viral on social media.
Sithole, the CCC Member of Parliament for Chitungwiza North, is also accused of inciting violence by arranging lorries which ferried party activists who attacked the homes of Zanu-PF supporters.
CCC national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere urged party supporters to wear yellow tomorrow (Friday) in solidarity with the duo.
“As the CCC we obviously respect the court ruling but insist that in terms of the Constitution both these Honourable Members of Parliament remain innocent until proven guilty. None of them has any conviction for any offense relating to public violence. Bail is a constitutional right.
“We have talked to their lawyers, they are going to take steps to secure their position and remedies for them with regards to the court judgement which we obviously respect. As for the citizens, we call for everyone to join in yellow Friday tomorrow where everybody will be wearing yellow in solidarity with both Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole,” she said.
