(Last Updated on August 25, 2020 by Editor)
HARARE – MDC Alliance Vice Chairperson, Job Sikhala who was arrested and is currently detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison fears for his life after the the Officer in Charge of the prison told Job that “he shall die in prison.”
This was according to Sikhala’s lawyers yesterday as they were presenting a case against the arrest of the top opposition official.
Sikhala’s lawyer, Harrison Nkomo told Harare Magistrate, Lanzini Ncube that he was advised that the accused wanted to be President of the country which was undesirable and that he shall die in prison hence must provide mobile number for next of kin.
The Zengeza West MP’s lawyers argued that his alleged statements/utterances do not amount to inciting people to commit public violence but he was exercising his constitutionally guaranteed rights.
George Mutimbanyoka, the Officer in Charge at Chikurubi Maximum Prison allegedly ordered a junior officer to handcuff Sikhala the whole day and to keep him with leg irons.
Sikhala’s lawyers also raised concern about the health threats posed to their client as he was not provided with any PPE despite that he had been informed by other inmates that several inmates had tested for Covid-19 in the same section he is being detained.
Magistrate Ncube ordered that the cells be immediately sanitised in the interest of the inmates.
Several supporters of the vocal legislator protested at the Magistrate court.
Magistrate Ncube is hearing arguments which will continue on Tuesday. More to follow…
