Guest: Adv. Harrison Nkomo, Head of litigation at Mhishi Nkomo attorneys 

A Zimbabwean court on Tuesday freed opposition politician Job Sikhala after nearly 600 days of pre-trial detention on charges of inciting public violence in 2022.

Sikhala, 51, a leader in the opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has been arrested dozens of times since he began his political career in 1999.

 He was jailed in 2022 for obstruction of justice and inciting public violence after saying that the ruling party, ZANU PF, had killed an opposition activist, which it denied. He denied all charges against him.

A Harare magistrate convicted him of inciting public violence but gave him a suspended two-year sentence because he had already spent so long in jail.

Harrison Nkomo, lawyer for Sikhala said his client will appeal the conviction… Nkomo joins us on the line.

Talking points:

- Sikhala’s role in opposition benches & CCC (party paused support for him to campaign for elections)

-         Suing the state

-         Politicizing Judicial system to persecute opponents