Sikhala's SA explosives trial kicks off

Outspoken Zimbabwean politician Job Sikhala is set to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Tuesday following last year's discovery of explosives in a vehicle he was travelling in while passing through South Africa.

The former Zengeza West legislator, who is jointly charged alongside his uncle, was released on R10,000 bail and has been awaiting trial in South Africa. The incident occurred in November 2025 while Sikhala was returning from Botswana, where he had addressed the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) congress as an invited international guest.

Sikhala, founder and chief facilitator of the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), has been a vocal critic of the Zimbabwean government, often facing extensive legal persecution. He denied the explosives charges, asserting that Zimbabwean authorities orchestrated his arrest by planting the materials in his uncle's car. "The charges against me are baseless, and this is in fact shown in the bail conditions granted to me," Sikhala said. "If the South African authorities had any real concerns, I would never have been released on such liberal bail conditions."

A fundraising effort has been launched to cover Sikhala's impending legal fees, with a R100,000 target managed by Bulawayo mayor David Coltart. Sikhala confirmed the campaign, though he said he had not yet received full feedback on progress.

Jameson Zvidzai Timba, convenor of the Defend the Constitution Platform, condemned the arrest, warning that criminalising dissent, whether domestically or across borders, threatens constitutionalism, the rule of law, and democratic participation. He called for solidarity in supporting the mobilisation of legal resources to ensure justice.

Sikhala's legal troubles are long-standing. He has spent over 500 days in pre-trial detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on politically motivated charges and has faced more than 70 charges throughout his political career, without ever being convicted.

The Pretoria trial marks the next chapter in the embattled politician's ongoing legal battles.