Sikhala's application for discharge dismissed

Harare magistrate Vongai Guriro Muchuchuti has rejected an application for the discharge of imprisoned Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist Job Sikhala, stating that Sikhala has a case to answer.

Sikhala was represented by Harrison Nkomo and Jeremiah Bhamu.

In her ruling, Guriro Muchuchuti noted that the video clip showed Sikhala's presence when the alleged public incitement took place. She emphasized that the court had thoroughly assessed all the evidence from the witness and that it was not reasonable to argue that Sikhala's utterances in the video had no intention to incite public violence. She also stated that it was not reasonable to claim that Sikhala was not in the video or that the voice did not belong to him.

The charges against Sikhala stem from his alleged involvement in a protest march on August 21, 2020, where he was accused of inciting people to commit public violence in response to perceived mismanagement by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government. Additionally, Sikhala faced an alternative charge of inciting public violence for purportedly encouraging people to participate in demonstrations causing public violence and disturbing the peace, including by sharing video messages that incited violence. He was also accused of calling on Zimbabweans outside the country to join the demonstration scheduled for July 31, 2020.