By Wilis Moyo

Harare – The High Court on Monday acquitted opposition leader Job Sikhala of two convictions, including inciting public violence and publishing falsehoods. Sikhala, who spent 595 days in solitary confinement, welcomed the verdict, stating:

“I told all who cared to listen to me that I did not commit any crime in my professional calling to represent the Moreblessing Ali family.”

Sikhala was arrested and charged with inciting public violence following the murder of Moreblessing Ali. He maintained that the charges were politically motivated, aimed at removing him from the 2023 general elections.

“It was the evilness that resided in the hearts of those who ran our country, and it was political persecution,” he said.

The High Court upheld Sikhala’s appeals, citing a lack of evidence in both cases. The state conceded that the first conviction was based on a non-existent law, while the second case had no evidence of incitement. Sikhala emphasized:

“Where there is no evidence, even a kraal head would not convict.”

Sikhala’s acquittal has sparked debate about the judiciary’s independence in Zimbabwe. He warned those who persecuted him:

“Remember, there is God in heaven. Your day of judgment shall also come.”

Sikhala’s legal team hailed the ruling as a victory for justice and a testament to the integrity of the judiciary.

The case has drawn attention to the plight of political prisoners in Zimbabwe and the need for judicial reform to prevent similar miscarriages of justice.