'Chamisa is weak without Sikhala'

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Job Sikhala's solidarity movement believes that opposition Citizens Coalition for Change leader, Nelson Chamisa, is weak without the incarcerated former Zengeza West legislator.

An organisation that identifies itself as Youth Solidarity Movement led by Darlington Chingwena, Comfort Mpofu and Gerald Tavengwa addressed journalists in Harare on Tuesday calling for supporters to attend Sikhala’s ruling at the Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

They argued that due to the absence of Sikhala during the August 23 harmonised general elections, the opposition led by Nelson Chamisa failed to challenge the disputed results.

Chamisa lost the past elections with 44% against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 52.6%. The CCC leader refused to accept the results and called for another plebiscite supervised by the Southern African Development Community.

The YSM leaders said Sikhala would have challenged the election outcome.

“Citizens have been left wondering, had Job Sikhala been free, would he have remained silent in the face of the rigging of the 23 August election? Would he have remained silent when Tapfumaneyi Masaya was brutally murdered in Mabvuku, Sikhala is a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism. This makes him a thorn in the side of the regime,” they said.

“On 24 January at 1430hrs, the magistrate will pronounce a ruling on the case of incitement to commit public violence that is alleged to have been committed by Sikhala while fighting for justice for Moreblessing. We are hopeful that Sikhala will be exonerated and will be re-united with his family.”

They further argued that Sikhala’s release would “mark a new era in the history of Zimbabwe”.

The movement also hinted at the possibility of launching protests against the government.

"The Movement will launch a protracted struggle to push back against authoritarianism on freedom day. It is now clear that the stronger the ruling party, the more intolerant it becomes, the weaker the opposition, the stronger the despotism. The dictatorship in Harare has to be confronted by a united front of all citizens so that Zimbabwe can be transformed into a democracy," they added.

Sikhala has been detained at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for more than a year and half over allegations of inciting public violence. His ruling will be delivered on Wednesday.