(Last Updated on January 28, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Incarcerated MDC Alliance vice-chairman Job Sikhala has vowed to continue speaking out despite the concerted efforts to silence dissenting opinions.
In a letter from his Chikurubi cell, Sikhala said the country was at crossroads where only a few were enjoying at the expense of the citizens.
“Fellow countrymen, women, comrades and friends, today marks the 20th day of my incarceration on a law that is not in existence and for the crime that I did not commit. The regime has declared myself, Hopewell Chin’ono and Fadzayi Mahere and many others enemies of the state for the truth we speak to authority.
“Our country is at crossroads. Everyone is suffering except those swimming on the honey of patronage at the expense of the generality of our people,” said Sikhala.
The Zengeza West legislator said the persecution he has faced together with other critics was aimed at silencing them.
“It is that suffering they want to silence us upon. Great leaders were born out of persecution. Nelson Mandela, Joshua Nkomo, Morgan Tsvangirai, Dumiso Dabengwa, Lookout Masuku, Edgar Tekere, Leopold Takawira and many others. They never gave up but remained resolute to death,” he added.
He said he wanted to assure citizens that “Zimbabwe shall be free.”
Sikhala was arrested on the 9th of January 2021 on allegations of communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the State.
Yesterday, the High Court reserved the judgement on his bail appeal to next week following submissions by the State and the defence team.
Fellow MDC Alliance member Mahere and veteran journalist, Chin’ono are out on bail facing similar charges.
The trio’s recent arrest prompted widespread criticism from citizens and the international community as it emerged that the law being used to charge the three was struck off by the Constitutional Court in 2014.