Sikhala, Sithole denied bail after 23 days of pre-trial incarcerationHigh Court judge Justice Lucy Mungwari has denied bail to opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators/MP's Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole who are charged with incitement to commit public violence. The duo have now been in custody for 23 days.
The lawmakers were arrested on 14 June, accused of inciting violence following clashes with Zanu-PF youths in Chitungwiza at the funeral wake for murdered CCC activist Moreblessing Ali.
They were denied bail last week with Magistrate Gibson Mandaza ruling that they were “a threat to public security”.(!)
On Thursday, their bail appeal was again dismissed by the High Court.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) deputy national chairman Job Sikhala and fellow legislator Godfrey Sithole were brought to court movie style
The two are represented by human rights lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
“Hon. Sikhala and Hon. Sithole will remain incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison after Justice Mungwari dismissed their bail appeal after ruling that if released on bail, the two are likely to disturb public order or undermine public order or security,” ZLHR said.
Job Sikhala is merely trying to get justice for Moreblessing Ali's family
Moreblessing Ali was abducted by suspected Zanu-PF thugs before her body was found after two weeks cut into pieces, her intestines packed in a plastic bag (!!) and thrown into a well at the Beatrice home of claimed Zanu-PF supporter and murder suspect Pius Jamba.
The State alleges that Sikhala incited violence by urging opposition supporters to avenge Ali’s murder in a video which went viral on social media.