Sikhala ruling set for tomorrow

Zvikomborero Parafini

ZENGEZA West legislator, Job Sikhala, was yesterday back in court before Harare regional magistrate Stanford Mambanje.

Another magistrate, Ngoni Nduna, recused himself.

The State, represented by Tafara Chirambira, applied for Sikhala to be placed on remand, pending trial, in the matter he is accused of obstructing the course of justice.

In making the application, Chirambira argued that, from the facts and the State outline, there is reasonable suspicion that a crime was committed.

And, as such, he said, the politician should be placed on remand, pending trial.

“There is reasonable suspicion that the offence was committed and all the other issues being raised are triable issues. In other words, it’s believable that he committed the alleged offences.

“If the allegation is that words were uttered and they may have defeated an investigation, and there are people who were there who will testify what they heard, clearly we have reached the threshold of reasonable suspicion.

“And, this application for placement on remand ought to succeed,” said Chirambira.

 Beatrice Mtetwa, acting on Sikhala’s behalf, opposed the application.

She argued that her client was acting on behalf of the late Moreblessing Ali’s relatives.

“When he spoke about the Ali murder, he spoke as a legal practitioner, who had been engaged by the family, to protect its legal rights.

“He was conveying his client’s interests and, if he said anything, he did so in that capacity.

“The second ground of opposition is that the accused is already on remand on allegations arising during the same period being alleged as is clear in the request for remand that the words are exactly the same words the State is now relying on to place accused on remand in this charge.”

Magistrate Mambanje remanded Sikhala to tomorrow for the ruling.

Allegations are that between May 25 and June 16, Sikhala knowing that the Ali murder case was under investigation and a manhunt for the suspect Pius Jamba Mukandi was underway, addressed mourners in Nyatsime, Beatrice.

The address was uploaded online, including YouTube, and he claimed that Ali was allegedly murdered by Zanu PF supporters. This was intended to mislead the police in their investigations.

The State alleges that as a result of Sikhala’s utterances, the police investigations could have suffered potential prejudice.

His actions, according to the State, could have derailed the natural wheels of justice by misleading police investigations.