Sikhala arrested in South Africa over alleged explosives smuggling

Prominent Zimbabwean opposition figure Job Sikhala has been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Pretoria after authorities say explosives were discovered in his vehicle while en route to Zimbabwe. 

A SAPS source, who asked not to be named, told media that Sikhala was stopped and detained following the alleged discovery of blasting cartridges and capped fuses in a car identified as his. 

At the time of his arrest, Sikhala is seen in images wearing his trademark "Mandela shirt", handcuffed and seated beside a ramp at Pretoria Central. 

Neither the Zimbabwean authorities nor the Zimbabwean government have publicly commented on the incident. Sikhala's associates claim the arrest may have been the result of a setup involving his visit to a meeting in South Africa. 

Sikhala, a former Member of Parliament, has been a well-known opponent of the ruling party in Zimbabwe, having been previously detained on other charges. 

The exact quantity or type of explosives found, the specific section of the law under which Sikhala is being prosecuted, and the detailed circumstances of the stop remain unclear. According to one report, the arrest took place on the N14 highway near Johannesburg after police acted on a tip-off about a vehicle transporting explosives. 

Legal teams from both Zimbabwe and South Africa have reportedly been mobilised to handle Sikhala's case. 

The arrest raises serious questions about cross-border security cooperation, political dissent, and the rights of opposition figures in the region. Observers will now watch for official statements from South African and Zimbabwean law-enforcement agencies and for Sikhala's court appearance in Pretoria.



More details to follow...