A magistrate in Harare handed down a suspended two-year sentence to both Job Sikhala and his co-defendant, Mr. Godfrey Sithole, also an MP. The sentence has been suspended for a duration of five years. Mr. Sithole had previously been released on bail after spending five months in detention. The conviction pertained to charges of inciting public violence.
The legal counsel for Job Sikhala has expressed their intention to challenge the conviction in the High Court.
Job Sikhala’s arrest in June 2022 stemmed from allegations that he instigated violence in response to the horrific discovery of the mutilated remains of Moreblessing Ali, an activist with the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), which were found in a well several weeks after her disappearance.
The subsequent unrest took place in Ms. Ali’s neighbourhood of Chitungwiza, located approximately 30 kilometres south of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
An attorney for the Ali family, Mr. Sikhala was accused of using social media platforms to fuel the unrest, a charge he has consistently refuted.
In the trial’s verdict, the magistrate pointed to evidence that purportedly implicated Job Sikhala and Mr. Sithole in instigating the violence. While Mr. Sithole was able to secure bail after a five-month period of remand, Mr. Sikhala’s numerous bail requests were rejected.
Such outcomes have sparked speculation that Job Sikhala was the target of political persecution, a claim underscored by his statement that he has been arrested over 60 times without a single conviction to date.
Nevertheless, Mr. Sikhala continues to face legal challenges. His attorney has noted that he is still contending with several charges, including disorderly conduct, incitement of violence, and the publication of falsehoods.
