…says party is coming for ED
Upenyu
Chaota
Chaota
MDC national vice chairperson Job Sikhala, who is
battling subversion charges and last week had his case moved from the Bikita
Magistrates’ Court to Masvingo High Court, has said he will not be cowed into
silence by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
battling subversion charges and last week had his case moved from the Bikita
Magistrates’ Court to Masvingo High Court, has said he will not be cowed into
silence by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
The fiery opposition leader said his party will take
the offensive to Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s doorstep.
the offensive to Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s doorstep.
Sikhala, who addressed an impromptu rally outside the
Bikita Magistrates’ Court after his court appearance last week, said he knew the
law very well and was convinced he did not commit any crime.
Bikita Magistrates’ Court after his court appearance last week, said he knew the
law very well and was convinced he did not commit any crime.
He claimed that what he is alleged to have said about
removing Mnangagwa from power was within his rights.
removing Mnangagwa from power was within his rights.
“I am not just the accused person but I am one of the
best and most brilliant lawyers in this country. I am not bothered at all about
this process. In authoritarian and tyrannical systems that are founded on abuse
of the rule of law and constitutionalism, this is very common.
best and most brilliant lawyers in this country. I am not bothered at all about
this process. In authoritarian and tyrannical systems that are founded on abuse
of the rule of law and constitutionalism, this is very common.
“There is nothing to be surprised about because our
regime, like its sister regimes of the past, try to survive on the use of
various institutions of the State to thwart any form of perceived or real
threat to their grip on power,” said Sikhala.
regime, like its sister regimes of the past, try to survive on the use of
various institutions of the State to thwart any form of perceived or real
threat to their grip on power,” said Sikhala.
Sikhala declared that Zanu PF could silence any other
person but not him, saying he was prepared to die fighting for the freedom of
the people of Zimbabwe.
person but not him, saying he was prepared to die fighting for the freedom of
the people of Zimbabwe.
“You can silence other people but not Job Sikhala. A
person like me will never be silenced, there will be blood. We are prepared to
die for the freedom of the people of Zimbabwe.
person like me will never be silenced, there will be blood. We are prepared to
die for the freedom of the people of Zimbabwe.
“Just like the great military commander Josiah
Tongogara, who died fighting for the freedom of our people, Job Sikhala is
prepared to die. This generation of today has its own liberation fighters in
the form of Advocate Nelson Chamisa and Job Sikhala.
Tongogara, who died fighting for the freedom of our people, Job Sikhala is
prepared to die. This generation of today has its own liberation fighters in
the form of Advocate Nelson Chamisa and Job Sikhala.
“If they think they will cow us into submission, they
are mistaken because this is the beginning and we are now coming for them.
Hokoyo Mnangagwa! We will never be afraid. We shall keep demanding the freedom
of our people. As long as our people are suffering we will never be silenced,”
said Sikhala.
are mistaken because this is the beginning and we are now coming for them.
Hokoyo Mnangagwa! We will never be afraid. We shall keep demanding the freedom
of our people. As long as our people are suffering we will never be silenced,”
said Sikhala.
He said Mnangagwa did not care about the suffering
masses as he lives an extravagant lifestyle hiring private jets from Dubai to
fly him even on local trips to the tune of millions of dollars.
masses as he lives an extravagant lifestyle hiring private jets from Dubai to
fly him even on local trips to the tune of millions of dollars.
“We have relatives who are teachers whose salaries
cannot even buy underwear but we have a President who spends millions hiring
private jets. People have no jobs and we will not be silent about it.
cannot even buy underwear but we have a President who spends millions hiring
private jets. People have no jobs and we will not be silent about it.
“The use of the judiciary for purposes of settling
political scores has never been a sustainable strategy in several jurisdictions
including our own during the period of Ian Smith. Command justice is only
applied by people who lack confidence on how to manage the state of affairs.
political scores has never been a sustainable strategy in several jurisdictions
including our own during the period of Ian Smith. Command justice is only
applied by people who lack confidence on how to manage the state of affairs.
“Since the coup in November 2017, we noticed excessive
use of military and police power to abuse citizens of our country. We will keep
fighting for our people. Even Smith never thought one day he would be removed
from power but it happened,” said Sikhala.
use of military and police power to abuse citizens of our country. We will keep
fighting for our people. Even Smith never thought one day he would be removed
from power but it happened,” said Sikhala.
Sikhala rallied people to throng the Masvingo High
Court on January 27 to send a message to President Mnangagwa that he will not
subvert the will of the people.
Court on January 27 to send a message to President Mnangagwa that he will not
subvert the will of the people.
“We need to flood the High Court on January 27. We
need thousands of our supporters to come and make a statement that we stand
with our leaders when they are demanding our freedom and our liberation. Musi
wa27 hakudyiwi kuMasvingo,” said Sikhala.
need thousands of our supporters to come and make a statement that we stand
with our leaders when they are demanding our freedom and our liberation. Musi
wa27 hakudyiwi kuMasvingo,” said Sikhala.
Sikhala found himself in trouble with the law in July
while campaigning for the Bikita East Ward 30 local authority by-election when
he allegedly said that he would remove President Mnangagwa from power.
while campaigning for the Bikita East Ward 30 local authority by-election when
he allegedly said that he would remove President Mnangagwa from power.
MDC national youth secretary for information and
publicity Steven ‘Sakorzy’ Chuma said the Zanu PF government needed to be
removed from power ‘because it has caused immense suffering in the country’.
publicity Steven ‘Sakorzy’ Chuma said the Zanu PF government needed to be
removed from power ‘because it has caused immense suffering in the country’.
