Job Sikhala remanded in prison
In November the High Court of Zimbabwe
overturned the conviction and sentencing
of former Zengeza West legislator Job
Sikhala and found him not guilty on the
charge of obstructing justice. Job Sikhala
has been in prison for over 500 days. He is
also facing charges of inciting public
violence during the funeral of the
murdered opposition Citizens Coalition for
Change (CCC) activist Moreblessing Ali. Job
Sikhala’s case has been prolonged for over
a year.
Source: https://www.amnesty.org.zw/
Opposition Recalls
Following the harmonised elections in October 2023, 14 members of
parliament were recalled from parliament following the letter by Mr
Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-claimed interim Secretary General of the
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). Mr Tshabangu wrote a letter to the
Speaker of Parliament informing him of the recalls of the members of
parliament. These recalls triggered a by-election which was to be held on
the 9th of December 2023. While contesting candidates were filing their
nomination papers on the 7th of November, Mr Tshabangu wrote to the
Ministry of Local Government, announcing a recall of the Mayor of Harare
Ian Makoni, his deputy (Kudzai Kadzombe) and 7 other elected councillors
on the grounds that they had ceased to be members of CCC. On the 10th
and the 14th of November, Mr Tshabangu further recalled 52 councillors,
13 more members of Parliament and 9 Senators respectively. The
prolonging of election periods in Zimbabwe traditionally exposes ordinary
citizens to a series of political violence and human rights violations.
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