World Bank approves $350 million grant for Malawi hydropower project
Jailed Zimbabwe opposition MP loses appeal bid
9:11 CAT | 16 Aug 2022
File photo: Twitter / @JobSikhala1
A Zimbabwe opposition MP who’s been behind bars for two months must remain in jail, a Harare high court judge ruled today.
Job Sikhala has been repeatedly denied bail as he awaits trial on incitement to violence and obstruction charges.
He was arrested on 14 June after opposition Citizens Coalition for Change supporters clashed with those of the ruling Zanu-PF at the funeral wake of murder victim Moreblessing Ali, a woman the opposition claimed as a party member.
About a dozen other opposition supporters were also arrested.
He was charged with inciting violence and for misleading the police for a social media video in which he is alleged to have blamed the ruling party for the murder.
READ: Missing Zimbabwean opposition activist Moreblessing Ali found dead
The courts have denied Mr Sikhala bail, ruling that he was likely to reoffend as he faces similar unrelated charges.
His lengthy pre-trial detention has prompted a letter to the African Union and human rights groups in which he decried a “total breakdown of laws… We are under political persecution passed as trials,” he said.
There is the heaviest police deployment in Nyatsime today around Moreblessing Ali’s residence never witnessed in this country.
We hope this heaviest deployment is to keep peace for Moreblessing Ali’s Memorial Service Prayer to go ahead peacefully without incident. pic.twitter.com/JXNBtwGwRB
— HON Job Wiwa Sikhala (@JobSikhala1) June 14, 2022
Violence instigator Job Sikhala to spend 3 months behind bars‼️
Job Sikhala’s application for removal from further remand was dismissed & trial date has been set on 21 November. pic.twitter.com/n4zWwSr8QZ
— 🇿🇼 ZANU PF PATRIOTS 🇿🇼 (@zanupf_patriots) August 16, 2022
Source: BBC
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.