Sikhala tells court how investigating officers frequent his offices for lunch, beer

0Shares

BAIL hearing for jailed MDC Alliance vice chair, Job Sikhala continued Tuesday with the firebrand politician taking to the witness’s stand before a Harare magistrate to deny both being violent and fugitive from justice.

Sikhala is facing charges of inciting the public to commit violence.

Said the opposition legislator in court, “The struggle for social justice has never been fought on the plane of violence and the State should not invite me to a territory which I’m not part of.”

Sikhala told court he was a good bail candidate insisting he was once granted bail on subversion charges and never defaulted.

The lawmaker said he never defaulted bail in any of the past 64 cases that have been brought against him by the state.

Contrary to police allegations that he was arrested while hiding in a ceiling, Sikhala said he “was arrested in my bedroom with my wife”.

“Anyone who believes that I was in the ceiling considering my (physical) stature needs psychiatric attention,” said the burly politician.

Police said Sikhala was difficult to arrest and only came out of the ceiling after they threatened to throw tear gas into his hideout.

He denied ever hearing of a police press statement suggesting he was being sought adding that he was seeing the document for the first time in court.

Sikhala also supported his bail application saying he had no pending matter before any court in Zimbabwe.

“I’m not a flight risk and have never absconded even more serious matters such as treason or subversion,” he said.

The Zengeza legislator told court he had no reason to flee trial if granted his freedom because he had 11 children – the oldest being 20 and youngest 1 year 3 months old – all depending on him.

Top human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa also supported his application saying he was once arrested for treason but never gave the police any difficulties.

Meanwhile, Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume will know his fate Wednesday when the High Court delivers ruling on his bail appeal.

–New Zimbabwe.com

BLOW BY BLOW ACCOUNT

14:28*Sikhala tells the court that the struggle for social justice has never been fought on the plane of violence and the State should not invite him in a territory he was not part of.
*14:32*Was granted bail on subversion charges and never defaulted bail condition
*14:32*Never defaulted bail in any of the past 64 cases that have brought him before the courts
*14:34*Was arrested in his bedroom with his wife and was never in the ceiling as alleged by the State. Anybody who believes that he was in the ceiling with his frame of body needs psychiatric attention

*14:36*Makore brought a search warrant for bombs and matcher at his in-laws house.Job Sikhala became manna from heaven as he was not a subject on the warrant
*14:39*Had never heard of the police’s press statement and I seeing it before the court
*14:40*Denies knowledge of a pending assault case at St Mary’s as well as the charges of violating the Urban Councils Act
*14:41*He has no pending matter before any court in Zimbabwe
*14:43*Am not a flight risk and have never absconded even more serious matters such as treason or subversion
*14:45*MPs net ZWL15 000 monthly and lawyers net US$15 000 or ZWL150 000 on a bad month
*14:47*Has 11 children, the oldest is 20 while the youngest is 1 year 3 months old all depending on him
*14:48*Owes support to 15 Gutu farm workers,8 employees at his law firm, assists his uncle’s who have no financial assistance as well as members of his constituency
*14:50*Owes Farm 35 in Deure and the police never looked for him there
*14:51*Detectives Makore and Mukohwa know his office and frequent it for money for lunch or beer.
*14:53*Denied the luxury of a diplomatic passport and states that he can surrender the one he has at any time
*14:54*July 31 has come and gone