Democratic Party condemns calls for Sikhala’s arre...

Democratic Party condemns calls for Sikhala’s arrest

Zim Now Writer

Opposition outfit, the Democratic Party, has condemned calls from alleged Zanu PF officials for the arrest of former Zengeza West legislator, Job Sikhala following his recent address at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy on May 15.

Sikhala addressed delegates at the Summit on his experiences in Chikurubi Maximum Prison for almost 600 days.

The alleged calls for his arrest were raised by Zanu PF MP for Bikita South, Energy Mutodi, who is also chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and PArliamentary Affairs, who said that the former Zengeza legislator should not speak ill of his country, citing the Patriotic Act.

Mutodi added that the country's security officials must move in quickly on the matter.

In a statement, DP president, Dr Wurayayi Zembe, said that the calls for his arrest are against democratic principles, especially considering that the former legislator was giving an account what he experienced in prison.

He also called upon members of Sikhala’s NDWG and civic societies to advocate and stand in solidarity with Sikhala in this time, while condemning what he alleged to be continued political persecution of Sikhala.

“Ever since his first-hand-account factual presentation at the Summit, there is increasing social media agitation from Zanu PF members calling for the arrest of Adv Sikhala. The Zanu PF agitators accuse Adv Job Sikhala for accepting an invitation to speak at the Human Rights and Democracy Summit; and for narrating the cruel treatment and suffering he endured while in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison for 595 torturous days in pre-trial solitary confinement, always chained in leg irons.

“The Democratic Party (DP) is disgusted by such savagery calls for the arrest of innocent Adv Job Sikhala from garrulous Zanu PF Bikita MP Energy Mutodi, impostor Sengezo Tshabangu and Zanu PF destroyers (varakashi).

“DP strongly condemns continued political persecution of Advocate Job Sikhala. We are calling on the people of Zimbabwe to defend observance and protection of the sacred international principles of Human Rights and Democracy in our country.

“Dictatorship, oppression, cruelty, violence, corruption and rampant, flagrant violations of Human Rights and Democracy must be ended in Zimbabwe, forthwith.

“The Democratic Party urges all constituent bodies represented in the National Democratic Working Group civic movement to be vigilant in supporting the ongoing inclusive national consultations on the way forward in resolving Zimbabwe’s worsening governance crisis,” Dr Zembe said.