(Last Updated on March 10, 2023 by ZIMDAILY EDITOR)
Your Excellency,
My name is Ngoni Danzwa, a comrade to Job Sikhala. I am a Zimbabwean citizen aged 25, writing to you as the head of both the Government and State of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on my personal behalf and that of Job Sikhala’s family and many other progressive citizens. Voicing concern over the prolonged pre-trial incarceration of Job Sikhala and the failure of the judiciary system of our country to deliver justice.
I know you know this Sir, but allow me to remind you nonetheless, that in his career as an opposition politician, Job Sikhala was arrested for over 65 times. And in those 65 arrests Job Sikhala was never convicted of any crime. He has no criminal record. His hands are clean. He is not a “hardcore criminal” as your government purports him to be. The fact that Job Sikhala was arrested for over 65 times and still got acquitted on all charges gives an indication that Job is a law abiding citizen, a man who respects and lives by the laws of the land. A man who is not a danger to the society.
Above all Mr. President Sir, Job Sikhala is an elected honourable Member of parliament, who was duly and legitimately elected into office by the residents of Zengeza West. He is also an officer of the Law, and by the virtue of that, he does not deserve the treatment he is getting from the courts of the land. Job Sikhala is a husband and a father who has a family that relies on him as a breadwinner. His incarceration is not only painful to him as an individual, but it is also a burden to his family. He has a family that needs to be fed, children that needs to be send to school and rentals that needs to be paid.
Now back to the crux of my letter to you Sir. Job Sikhala has been in prison for over 250 days without a trial, after having been denied bail several times on baseless grounds, by the magistrates court and the high court. This is a flagrant violation of his right to personal liberty, as enshrined in the Zimbabwean constitution under section 49,(1)(a)(b). Furthermore, the constitution grants Job Sikhala the right to personal security and protects him from all forms of abuse from public or private sources.
This is not only an attack on the constitution and democracy, but it also puts a huge black dent on your government and on your image as the President of Zimbabwe. Sir, the pre-trial detention and persecution of Job Sikhala is doing more harm than good on not only the image of your government, but also on the image of Zimbabwe!
All he wanted was justice for Moreblessing Ali. All he wanted was for the killers of Moreblessing Ali to be brought to book and face consequences of their diabolical, morbid and austere actions. All he wanted was for the gruesome murder of Moreblessing Ali not to go unresolved and unpunished. And that does not constitute to a crime. Therefore Mr. President Sir, Job Sikhala’s arrest was unwarranted and his continued pre-trial detention is unfair and unjustified! This travesty of justice is deplorable and it must not be allowed to continue.
As the President of Zimbabwe who was sworn in to protect every citizen, I am appealing to you, and your government to put to an end this egregious injustice and the persecution of Job Sikhala, he is a legitimate citizen of this country who equally has the right to belong here and to live freely. May I also remind you Sir, that you took an oath to protect and defend the constitution of Zimbabwe. You took an oath to protect every citizen of Zimbabwe regardless of their political affiliation.
In your capacity as the appointing authority of the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice, and the Judge President of the High Court and all other judges, as well as the minister of justice. You have a duty Sir, it is your responsibility to ensure that justice reigns in our motherland, to ensure that no person is abused or persecuted in the courts of law.
Lastly Sir, I’m appealing to your conscience as a human being who knows what’s wrong and what’s right, what’s good and what’s evil. I am appealing to you as a father who has a family and children just like Job Sikhala. Let me take you back to late 2017 when you were being “persecuted” by Mugabe’s henchmen, when you skipped the border running for your dear life. The pain you went through, is also the pain that Job Sikhala is feeling when he is in Chikurubi Maximum Prison. The pain that your wife and children when you, their father was under attack, is also the pain that Job Sikhala’s wife and children are feeling today, when their father is being persecuted for political reasons and languishing in prison. Let me further take you back to the 70s during the liberation struggle, the pain that you felt when your comrades were unjustly and unlawfully incarcerated by the regime of Ian Smith, is also the same pain we feel today when our comrades are jailed by your government.
I beseech upon you Sir, to call for an end to what is happening to Job Sikhala, the man has suffered. I know you have the power to do it. I beg of you Sir, to appreciate my concerns and treat them with the urgency they deserve.
It defies logic and reason for Job Sikhala, to be locked in prison for over 250 days without trial in a country that is not at war, and allow that to go unnoticed and unquestionable. It is also unacceptable for us the people of Zimbabwe, to remain silent in the face of injustice and the breakdown of the rule of law.
Free Job Sikhala, Free Job Sikhala, Free Job Sikhala!
Faithfully;
Ngoni Danzwa.