Job Sikhala solidarity council launched

Oscar J Jeke

Efforts aimed at realising the release of incarcerated former Zengeza West legislator, Job sikhala have taken another twist with the launch today of a solidarity council in his name, led by Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union president, Obert Masaraure.

The focus of the council is to pressure authorities to act on the jailed former legislator, who has now spent over 500 days in pre-trial remand facing a number of allegations.

In a statement, Obert Masaraure said the solidarity council is meant to mobilise grassroots solidarity with Sikhala and all prisoners of conscience.

“Our aim is to ensure that every village and street shall mobilise constitutionally and put as much pressure as we constitutionally can to ensure that Hon Sikhala becomes a free man,” the statement read.

Masaraure took responsibility of organising programmes of the council, reiterating that there are other already identified volunteers from across all provinces to ensure that the Solidarity Council reaches out to villages, streets of the country and in the diaspora.

The teachers’ union leader also took to X to announce the names of other representatives labelled “Ambassadors” of the council.

The list includes, Masese, Dr Tinashe Kazuru, Laxton Chimedza, Simba Ndoda, Shelton Munuwuri and Professor Malango Chintenga in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, and Malawi respectively.

Sikhala faces various charges at the courts, some of which he is yet to be tried for.