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Court Reporter
CCC interim vice chairman Job Sikhala’s hopes for bail pending trial on charges of inciting public violence were shattered once again after the High Court yesterday rejected his fresh bid.
Justice Samuel Deme threw out Sikhala’s bail appeal without giving reasons.
He said the full reasons for the court’s decision would be availed in due course.
Sikhala, now characterised as an habitual offender was arrested in June last year for allegedly leading violent protests at the memorial service for Moreblessing Ali, who the CCC claims to have been their supporter.
This is the fourth time that Sikhala has unsuccessfully tried to obtain bail at the higher court pending trial.
Since his arrest seven months ago, Sikhala has been denied bail on grounds that he is an habitual offender, considering that has been arrested on similar allegations.
In all his attempts for bail, both the magistrates’ and High Court rulings unanimously agreed that Sikhala seems prima facie a habitual offender and has on many occasions broken conditions of bail granted to him in previous cases of a similar nature.
In their judgments, the courts said bail granted to Sikhala in the previous case has not deterred the Zengeza West legislator from continuing indulging in alleged acts of violence.
Sikhala is being accused of mobilising their party supporters to unleash violence in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza, during a memorial service for Ali.
Ali, who the CCC said was their supporter, was abducted outside a nightclub in Nyatsime on May 14 last year and her dismembered remains were discovered in a disused well at a farm in Beatrice, about 10km away from where she was taken.
The prime suspect in her murder, Pius Jamba, has since been arrested and is now facing a murder charge.
Online Reporter