Zimbabwean opposition figure, Job Sikhala, released after year-long trial ends in suspended sentence

Zimbabwean opposition politician Job Sikhala, who endured over a year in prison, was released from a maximum-security facility in Harare after a court handed him a suspended sentence on Tuesday.

Sikhala, a vocal government critic, claims his imprisonment was an “act of persecution” related to his unwavering commitment to his country.

The release follows his conviction for inciting public violence, a charge he and another opposition member, Godfrey Sithole, faced in connection to the murder of their political ally Moreblessing Ali.

A small crowd of supporters celebrated on the court steps after the verdict, chanting and dancing.

In video footage, Sikhala, wearing a white polo shirt, claimed to have been hastily released under the cover of darkness, stating, “These people sneaked me totally out; I was dumped here.” His lawyers had earlier announced his release for Wednesday morning.

The charges against Sikhala and Sithole stemmed from allegations of inciting supporters to avenge Ali’s death, murdered by a ruling party activist in May 2022. Sikhala, who denies the charges, has a history of legal encounters, with over 60 arrests in his tumultuous political career. The latest arrest occurred in June 2022 for a speech he gave at a memorial service for Ali.

Sikhala, who has been behind bars since then, faced numerous unsuccessful attempts to secure bail. Douglas Coltart, a defense lawyer, condemned the prolonged denial of bail, calling it a “horrific injustice.”

Critics argue that the ruling ZANU-PF party has been exploiting the courts to suppress opposition voices, a claim that gained traction amid Sikhala’s repeated arrests.

Despite previous convictions, including one in 2023 for obstruction of justice, Sikhala remained resilient. The 2023 conviction, related to his memorial service speech blaming ZANU-PF for Ali’s murder, initially barred him from running in the upcoming elections. However, the ruling was later overturned on appeal.

As Zimbabwe gears up for presidential and legislative elections in August, the release of Sikhala echoes concerns about the use of legal measures to stifle dissent, a practice critics argue undermines democratic standards in the country.