Sikhala arrested over war vets push for Mnangagwa resignation

Opposition politician Job Sikhala and 21 members from his political movement, the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), were arrested in Penhalonga, near Mutare, on Thursday, February 8, 2025, for allegedly planning a meeting to discuss supporting war veterans in their call for President Emmerson Mnangagwa's resignation.

Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests, stating: "I can confirm that Job Sikhala and 21 others have been arrested in Mutare. More details will be released in due course."

The arrest comes amid heightened political tensions in Zimbabwe, following the ruling Zanu-PF party's annual conference last year, where the decision was made to extend President Mnangagwa's term, which officially ends in 2028, by two years. This decision has sparked a wave of opposition, particularly from war veterans led by former Zanu-PF MP, Blessing Runesu Geza, who has been vocal in calling for the 82-year-old president to step down immediately.

Sikhala, a long-time critic of the Zanu-PF regime, had expressed support for Geza's stance on social media. On Friday, February 2, Sikhala praised Geza for his "bravery" in speaking out against the misrule of the ruling party, calling his courage "a beacon of hope for Zimbabweans fighting for democracy and human rights."

Geza, a member of Zanu-PF's central committee, has criticized the party's leadership for personalizing power while neglecting the general populace, many of whom continue to suffer from poverty. He also denounced the rampant corruption under President Mnangagwa's leadership, which he claims is undermining the country's economy.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi recently indicated that police would be instructed to arrest Geza on alleged murder charges related to a case for which the war veteran was acquitted by the courts.

Sikhala, who has previously been a target of the Zanu-PF government's repression, having spent 595 days in detention, has consistently aligned himself with those advocating for political change. He was released from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on January 30, 2024, after being handed a suspended two-year prison sentence on charges of publishing false statements and inciting violence. His conviction was later overturned by the High Court on July 22, 2024.

Speaking in an interview with The Standard on February 6, Sikhala reaffirmed his solidarity with Geza's calls for change and unity among opposition forces against Zanu-PF's authoritarian rule. "The issues raised by Geza are ones that resonate with the masses and affect every Zimbabwean," he stated.

Sikhala criticized Zanu-PF for its continued manipulation of the judiciary to settle political scores, referencing his own persecution, which included two years of pre-trial incarceration. He also highlighted the ongoing targeting of opposition figures, including Jameson Timba, Namatai Kwekweza, and Robson Chere.

Sikhala expressed his agreement with Geza's stance against Zanu-PF's push to extend Mnangagwa's presidency beyond 2028, a move that has drawn widespread opposition. "There is no issue more unifying than the attempt to amend the constitution to benefit one individual," he said. "The people of Zimbabwe are in full agreement that this must be stopped."

Sikhala stressed that the fight for democracy and the expansion of political space in Zimbabwe is a national concern, not just his own. "The question of collaborating with war veterans is not about individual glory-seeking. It is about the national grievances that need to be addressed collectively," he added.

The NDWG, under Sikhala's leadership, is set to meet on February 9, 2025, to deliberate on whether to stand in solidarity with the war veterans and formally join their fight against Zanu-PF's extended rule.

As the political climate grows increasingly volatile, Sikhala's potential collaboration with Geza and the war veterans marks another significant step in the opposition's efforts to challenge the status quo. However, with the crackdown on dissenting voices continuing, the future of Zimbabwe's political landscape remains uncertain.