THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) yesterday called the family of incarcerated Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Job Sikhala asking for urgent help over suspected poisoning in his prison cell at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
Sikhala, who has been arrested on several occasions, was
said to be vomiting and the prison officials summoned the legislator’s family
to bring a private doctor for urgent treatment.
The Zengeza West legislator’s aide Frederick Masarirevhu
told NewsDay that Sikhala’s wife was called by prison officials over a
suspected case of poisoning.
“It’s true, Sikhala is not okay. I spoke with his wife and
she informed me that the legislator has been vomiting and we are in touch with
doctors for urgent assistance.
“Mrs Sikhala is currently on her way to Chikurubi Maximum
Prison and a team of doctors is expected to follow. This is surprising
considering that I had an hour-long conversation with him on Saturday. From
what I hear, he is not in good shape and we wait to hear the exact condition
from the medical team,” Masarirevhu said.
Sikhala’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa confirmed the incident,
but said she was out of the country.
No further information was made available at the time of
going to print.
“That is what I have been told, but I have not seen him
because I am out of the country,” Mtetwa said.
NewsDay contacted the ZPCS officials who failed to respond.
Sikhala, who is the CCC vice-national chairperson, human
rights lawyer and legislator, was arrested on June 14 after violence broke out
in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza, during the funeral wake of Moreblessing Ali, a CCC
activist who was killed by a suspected Zanu PF activist, Pius Mukandi Jamba.
Sikhala is in prison for allegedly inciting unrest and
defeating the course of justice.
The State alleges that he posted a video on social media
that was intended at misleading the police who were investigating the death of
Ali.
He was arrested alongside Godfrey Sithole, a CCC MP for
Chitungwiza North and 13 party activists.
The charge of obstructing the course of justice were
levelled against him when he was already in remand prison.
He has applied for bail five times without success. Newsday
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