Outpouring of support for Sikhala after Chamisa MDC dumped him

Zengeza West MP and MDC deputy national chairman Job Sikhala presented himself to a police station in Harare on Tuesday, hours after a government spokesman described him as a "miscreant" who belonged in jail, and Zanu-PF accused him of "declaring war".

Sikhala was summoned by police on Monday over comments he made at a rally in Bikita last Saturday, in which he said the MDC would "overthrow" Mnangagwa before 2023 when the next elections are due.

The MDC said Sikhala's comments were "his personal opinions", but the legislator was receiving widespread support on the internet on Tuesday.

It was not clear if Sikhala would be charged, or what crime he had committed. He arrived at Harare Central Police accompanied by two lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Obey Shava and Jeremiah Bamu.

Sikhala told a rally in Bikita: "The war and the fight, we're going to take to the doorsteps of Emmerson Mnangagwa (sic). We're going to overthrow him before 2023. That's not a joke.

"We're going to defeat Zanu-PF and we're going to be committed to make sure that we terminate Zanu-PF's rulership of this country before 2023."

Zimbabweans on the internet rallied to Sikhala's defence.

Human rights campaigner and lawyer Siphosami Malunga compared the Zanu-PF regime's actions to target critics to the colonial government of Ian Smith.

He said on Twitter: "Almost every leader worth his salt in Zanu-PF and-PF Zapu was charged with treason by Ian Smith. That was even before they waged the armed struggle. Their crime was to call for the removal or overthrow of the unlawful and racist Rhodesian regime. We called them freedom fighters.

"So what exactly did Job Sikhala say? What was/is the context? Simply calling for the removal of a government is not treason. Treason is the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government. There has to be more."

Journalist and rights campaigner Pedzisai Ruhanya said: "The 2000 court case of Tsvangirai vs The State in which the brave MT at Rufaro Stadium bravely warned former President Mugabe that if he doesn't go peacefully, he would be removed violently was declared not treasonous by Supreme Court, but Mugabe went violently. No treason for Wiwa!"

MDC treasurer general David Coltart denied the MDC had deserted Sikhala with its statement dissociating the party from his rally utterances.

"Zanu-PF's outburst regarding one word used by Honourable Sikhala is nauseating and ironic given its role in the violent and illegal overthrow of Robert Mugabe in 2017. Be that as it may, the MDC, unlike Zanu-PF, is a party committed to non-violence, the rule of law and constitutionalism," Coltart said.