Mystery over Sikhala's arrest in South Africa deepens

Prominent Zimbabwean opposition activist and lawyer Jacob Sikhala is set to appear in court in Pretoria, South Africa, on Monday, where he is expected to learn more about the circumstances surrounding his mysterious arrest over alleged possession of explosives last Friday.

Sikhala, who currently leads the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), was detained alongside his 78-year-old uncle at a roadblock in Pretoria. Police allege the two were found in possession of 26 blasting cartridges and 15 capped fuses - a claim the outspoken activist has vehemently denied.

The 53-year-old former legislator, known for his fierce criticism of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government, maintains that he is the victim of a political setup.

According to sources close to Sikhala's defence team, there are suspicions that his arrest may have been part of a well-orchestrated plot to frame or discredit him, possibly involving elements linked to Zimbabwean intelligence.

"He was trapped on trumped-up charges," one associate claimed. "This has all the hallmarks of political persecution that has followed him for years."

Sikhala, who was reportedly in South Africa for medical treatment, is said to have been lured into a meeting by individuals posing as Congolese political figures or miners who expressed interest in supporting his democracy efforts in Zimbabwe.

His lawyer, Eric Mabuza, confirmed that Sikhala denies any knowledge of explosives being in the vehicle.

"My client insists there were no explosives in the car when he and his uncle went for dinner," Mabuza said. "He believes this incident smacks of foul play."

Sikhala has been arrested more than 70 times in Zimbabwe, mostly on charges widely viewed as politically motivated. Despite this, he has rarely been convicted - a pattern his supporters say highlights the persecution-by-prosecution approach used by authorities to silence dissenting voices.

His most recent detention in Zimbabwe, in 2022, saw him spend nearly 600 days in prison before being released earlier this year without conviction.

South African police have confirmed the arrest of two men - aged 53 and 78 - in connection with the explosives case. Law enforcement officials say the arrests followed a tip-off, and investigations are underway.

"Investigations are continuing. CCTV footage and other evidence are being reviewed to establish the sequence of events," a police spokesperson said.

Sikhala and his uncle are expected to appear in court tomorrow morning, where charges and further details of the case will be formally presented.

The arrest has sparked a wave of speculation and outrage among Zimbabwean civil society groups, who see the incident as part of a broader regional crackdown on exiled critics of the Harare administration.