SOME 48 000 people comprising Zimbabweans and citizens of other countries have signed a petition calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s intervention in the continued detention of opposition legislators Job Sikhala, Godfrey Sithole and 14 others.
The petition was generated on September 9 by the Platform
for Concerned Citizens (PCC) led by, among others, academic Ibbo Mandaza,
businessmen Strive Masiyiwa and Mutumwa Mawere, author Tsitsi Dangarembga,
scholars Tony Reeler, Philani Zamchiya, politician Simba Makoni and Alpha Media
Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube.
“It is evident that the petition has unveiled the concerns
of Zimbabwean citizens about the denial of bail and continued incarceration of
these Zimbabweans. At the time of writing this petition, 48 092 people have
joined and signed,” partly read a follow-up petition submitted to the Chief
Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda yesterday.
The initial petition had just over 100 signatories.
“The vast majority of those who have signed are
Zimbabweans, both from within the country and from the diaspora, but they have
been joined by the citizens of many other countries. In short, the petition has
world-wide concern, and people are continuing to sign,” the petition added.
Sikhala has spent over 100 days in remand prison since his
arrest on June 14 charged with incitement to violence following violent
skirmishes at the funeral of murdered opposition activist Moreblessing Ali.
He is charged alongside fellow opposition legislator
Sithole and 14 other Nyatsime residents.
They have been denied bail countless times. Sikhala said he
was facing political persecution for speaking out against human rights abuses.
But the courts insist that he is a repeat offender when
denying him bail.
Recently, Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi
Mangwana said government would not intervene in Sikhala’s case citing
separation of power between the Judiciary and the Executive.
“Today, we have informed the President about the progress
of the petition and the very large number of Zimbabweans (who) believe there is
a miscarriage of justice. It is our hope that the President will understand the
concerns of the citizens of Zimbabwe and makes plain the commitment of the
government of Zimbabwe to constitutionalism and the rule of law, and we shortly
see this miscarriage of justice being rapidly corrected,” Mandaza said.
“In our statement we made plain that we do not expect your
Excellency to directly interfere in the operations of the Zimbabwean courts,
but rather to insist that your government directs its agencies to strictly
follow the Constitution and the laws of the country.
“Here we would additionally point out that many lawyers in
the country do not believe that the denial of bail and continued incarceration
of these people is warranted on the facts as these are publicly available.”
Newsday
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