HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) – A outstanding opposition chief and lawmaker in Zimbabwe was convicted Wednesday of obstructing the course of justice for recording a video of himself accusing ruling get together supporters of killing and dismembering an activist and posting the video to social media.
Job Sikhala, a Parliament member and senior official in the principle opposition Citizens Coalition for Change get together, was detained practically 10 months in the past. He should pay a $600 fantastic by Friday or face an extra six months in jail, in line with the decision by a Justice of the Peace.
Sikhala was repeatedly denied bail after his arrest in July. Critics have cited his case as one other instance of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s makes an attempt to silence the opposition forward of Zimbabwe’s presidential and parliamentary elections this yr.
The 80-year-old Mnangagwa grew to become president in 2017 after a coup ended the 37-year rule of autocratic chief Robert Mugabe.
While the coup was initially welcomed by Zimbabweans and Mnangagwa promised democratic reforms, rights teams have just lately accused him of being as oppressive as Mugabe.
Amnesty International and different teams have mentioned the arrest and pretrial detention of the 50-year-old Sikhala and different activists, together with the banning of some political conferences, present Mnangagwa’s willingness to make use of the justice system towards his political opponents.
Sikhala was arrested after his feedback at a memorial service for Ali, an activist and member of Sikhala’s Citizens Coalition for Change who was lacking for weeks earlier than her physique was discovered hacked into items and stuffed in a nicely.
Police have arrested one man in relation to Ali’s slaying and say they haven’t discovered a political hyperlink to the killing. Opposition figures declare the arrested man is an activist with the ruling Zanu PF get together.
Sikhala was the lawyer representing Ali’s household through the seek for her. At the memorial service, Sikhala accused ruling get together members of killing Ali.
He was seen on video making the accusation and it was posted on social media. On Wednesday, Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa dominated that “Sikhala was the one who recorded and uploaded the video” and his feedback “misled” police.
Sikhala should stay in jail even when he pays the $600 fantastic as a result of he’s additionally on trial on separate prices of inciting public violence for the speech he made on the memorial service for Ali.
Sikhala has been arrested greater than 65 instances up to now 20 years, however his attorneys say Wednesday introduced his first conviction. The verdict got here days after Jacob Ngarivhume, the chief of a fringe political get together, was sentenced to 4 years in jail for a tweet that inspired individuals to take part in anti-government protests in 2020. One yr of the sentence was suspended.
Zimbabwe’s basic election will probably be in July or August. Many opposition figures say they’re battling intense authorities repression much like the time when Mugabe, who died in 2019, was president. Zimbabwe has had a sequence of violent and disputed elections because it gained independence from white minority rule in 1980.
Mnangagwa was a Mugabe ally for many years and served as a vice chairman throughout 2014-17 earlier than being fired by Mugabe after which taking energy in a coup backed by the military. Mnangagwa denies he’s clamping down on the opposition and claims his authorities has improved the political atmosphere.
Yet in latest months, dozens of opposition supporters, political activists, journalists, church leaders, commerce union members and pupil leaders have been arrested on numerous prices that authorized consultants say quantity to harassment.
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