The trial of Zimbabwean lawmakers Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole commenced on Tuesday before Harare magistrate, Tafadzwa Miti. The two are accused of inciting public violence to avenge the murder of activist Moreblessing Ali, an allegation they both deny. The trial is expected to last until Thursday.
Sikhala is said to have published a video urging the public to take action to avenge Ali’s death. Sithole is accused of assisting Sikhala, organising lorries that transported mourners to Ali’s memorial service, at which violence erupted. Some of the mourners, believed to be members of the Nyatsime community, were subsequently arrested.
The prosecution’s first witness, Edmore Runganga, told the court that he did not see the MPs committing the alleged offence. However, the defence team, consisting of Harrison Nkomo, Jeremiah Bamu, and Oliver Marwa, challenged Runganga’s evidence, asking him to produce evidence showing that Sikhala’s video prompted party members to become violent.
Bamu also questioned why the state had not charged Sithole separately, as he did not appear in the video. In response, Runganga maintained that Sithole was involved in the incitement since he was the one who procured the trucks that carried people to Nyatsime, where the violence took place.
While Sithole is out on bail, Sikhala has remained in pretrial detention since their arrest in June last year.
