Sikhala details arrest drama in Penhalonga

National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) chairman Job Sikhala, a prominent activist and former MP, has recounted the events surrounding his arrest alongside 39 others during a meeting in Penhalonga, Manicaland. Sikhala and the group were later released, but their Chief National Organiser, Engineer Joelson Mugari, remains in custody and is reportedly in critical condition after being denied access to his life-saving medication. Calls have been made to urgently transfer Mugari to Mutare General Hospital for medical attention.

Sikhala shared a detailed account of the ordeal, which unfolded during the NDWG's quarterly leadership meeting at the Beat of the Forest Resort. The NDWG, which Sikhala clarified is not a political party but a social justice movement, had convened to assess progress on citizen consultations across Zimbabwe.

According to Sikhala, the trouble began when a Toyota Hilux with dark windows arrived at the venue carrying five members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), led by an individual identified as Muvhangeri. After briefly engaging with Engineer Mugari, the vehicle left. Shortly afterward, another unmarked vehicle arrived, this time with members of the Police Intelligence (PI) and CID Law and Order, led by an officer named Ngweme. Their arrival was quickly followed by three truckloads of riot police armed with AK-47s and batons, storming the venue under the command of a plainclothes officer identified as Shonhiwa.

Shonhiwa reportedly shouted orders to "beat and catch everyone," leading to violent assaults on some of the meeting attendees. Sikhala recounted witnessing an officer point a gun at Dr. Wurayayi Zembe, threatening to shoot him, though Dr. Zembe remained calm.

Sikhala was eventually summoned by the Officer Commanding and informed that the group was being charged with violating Section 7 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) for allegedly holding a gathering without police clearance. However, Sikhala argued that MOPA does not apply to private executive meetings like theirs, which took place on private property.

The group was forced into police trucks amid torrential rains and transported to Penhalonga Police Station. They were soaked and made to sit on a dirty floor while their details were recorded, a process that took hours. Later, they were transferred to Mutare Central CID Law and Order, where Sikhala and three others, including Mugari and Dr. Zembe, were subjected to interviews.

Despite the ordeal, Sikhala maintained his composure and critiqued the charges as baseless. "How can a private meeting in a bush turn into a public gathering?" he questioned, adding that the authorities appear to be mistaking the NDWG for a political party, which it is not.

Engineer Mugari's condition has raised serious concerns. Denied access to his critical medication while in police custody, Mugari's health has reportedly worsened. Sikhala and his colleagues have urged the police to rush Mugari to Mutare General Hospital for urgent treatment.

Job Sikhala, a well-known activist, was released last year after spending approximately 600 days in political detention. His arrest and those of his colleagues have reignited concerns about Zimbabwe's political climate, with critics accusing authorities of targeting civil society groups and stifling dissent.

The NDWG continues to emphasize its role as a social justice movement focused on citizen engagement rather than political competition. However, the heavy-handed response to their meeting highlights the tense relationship between Zimbabwe's government and civil society.

This incident raises fresh questions about the application of MOPA and the treatment of activists, as calls grow for accountability and the protection of fundamental freedoms in Zimbabwe.