MDC Alliance vice chairperson Job Sikhala will know his
fate today when a Harare magistrate makes a ruling on his application
challenging placement on remand on charges of inciting public violence ahead of
the failed July 31 protests.
Harare magistrate, Mr Lazini Ncube, is expected to make the
ruling this afternoon.
Sikhala, through his lawyers Advocate Eric Matinenga, Mr
Jeremiah Bamu and Mr Harrison Nkomo, has challenged his placement on remand,
saying the allegations raised by the State are insufficient to build charges
against him.
The lawyers are arguing that the State failed to furnish
the court with videos and audios which the police allege carry the words
formulating his charges.
Prosecutors Mr Garudzo Ziyaduma and Mrs Tendai Shonhai said
they had sufficient grounds to place Sikhala on remand.
The prosecutors contend that although Sikhala claimed to
have been championing human rights, he should have done it within the limits of
the country’s laws.
“The rights should be exercised with due regard of other
citizens and the law,” said Mr Ziyaduma. “The deprivation of liberty is
premised on facts that he overstepped his limits by calling for the protests.
“The human rights defender is also a citizen who should
abide by the laws of the land. It was clear from what he did that it warrants the
placement of accused on remand.
“The facts are sufficient to raise reasonable suspicion.”
Circumstances leading to Sikhala’s arrest are that between
March 1 and August 21, 2020, he originated and posted videos on different
social media platforms with intent to incite public violence.
In the videos, Sikhala is alleged to have said: “People
from the Zambezi to Limpopo and Forbes Border Post to Victoria Falls, 31 July
2020 should be your day.
“This is the kind of war that we have. If we do not fight
this war, nothing will come out until we die. These men have oppressed people for a long time.”
The State also alleges that Sikhala used his social media
accounts to incite Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom, Australia and
South Africa to attack Zimbabwean embassies. Herald
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