Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Emmanuel Zellers Gumbo, the Spokesperson for the Friends of Job Sikhala Solidarity Trust. I am not ashamed to declare today that I was the brains behind the Friends of Job Sikhala Solidarity Trust formation, to compliment the support from the MDC party against his persecution that was packaged by the authoritarian and unpopular illegitimate regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Firstly, I would like to that the MDC People’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa for the immense support he gave to our friend Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala during his trying times. He truly demonstrated that he is a people’s President. We would like to further thank the MDC family for standing with us throughout this critical period in the history of our country. Friends and relatives can’t be mentioned as it is our obligation to stand with one of us during such times. In our thousands we complimented the efforts of all Zimbabweans in fighting on the corner of our dear friend Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala. Our solidarity is purely love for the man and our frowning on injustice and dictatorship. It is motivated by no any other agenda but purely protection of our dear friend from abuse by the State and his enemies. We have managed to build a fortress around our dear friend of which anyone who dares us must be warned in advance that we are prepared to die for him. Why we are prepared to die for him, is now public knowledge to our dear Zimbabweans. Our friend has gone through multifaceted abuse by the regime since time immemorial. We think that all along we did not render enough support for him to thwart the evil machinations of this evil regime of ZANU PF against his person. The persecution our friend went through for years can not be allowed to persist unchallenged.

Today’s press conference was called for two important developments since Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala appeared in Court for his trial on the 3rd of February 2020. Firstly, the police issued a very sickening press release on its Twitter handle informing the world about the burglary and theft that took place at the house of the presiding Judge Hon Garainesu Mawadze who is trying our dear friend’s case at the High Court sitting in Masvingo. The police in their press release insinuated that the unlawful entry and theft that happened at the Honourable Justice’s house had anything to do with his presiding over our dear friend’s trial. We did not take lightly to such innuendos. This is not only scandalous but defamatory in all material respects. Suggesting that a man of a man of implacable standing like Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala may be suggested to be linked with such disgrace is crossing the red line. We took the statement as a declaration of hostility against us and we have already taken remedial measures by instructing our lawyers to sue the police not only for defamation but for constitutional damages for the violation of our dear friend’s right to dignity. The brand of our friend is unquantifiable but we have instructed our lawyers to sue the police to the tune of $50 million Zimbabwe dollars. $25 million for defamation and another $25 million for constitutional damages. Quantification was done in consideration of the brand and public life space our friend is occupying in Zimbabwe. He is a freedom fighter, a people’s public representative and a legal practitioner of implacable record in Zimbabwe. An attempt to damage his public standing by the police force that has turned into a rogue element against the citizens of Zimbabwe can not go unchallenged.

Secondly, Ezra Chadzamira a ZANU PF mandarin in Masvingo addressed the people in Mwenezi, during the Council by election saying that no matter the number of people who come to support our dear friend Hon Job Sikhala, he will go to prison under whatever circumstances. Firstly, before going into detail, let me hasten to say that Chadzamira is an idiot of no substance and has no history to be taken as anything by anyone in Zimbabwe. He is just a jester who got a junior appointment by Emmerson Mnangagwa after the coup as a resident Minister for Masvingo Province. He is unknown beyond the parameters of his house gate. He seeks attention by attacking our dear friend. We also wonder what knowledge he has over the judgement awaiting our dear friend Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala for him to boldly say such statements. It is dangerous for anyone no matter who you are to interfere with the judiciary. This undermines the administration of justice in our country. It is unfortunately further confirming ZANU PF’s interference with the operation of the judiciary. Let this idiot be warned that his utterances are a recipe for serious conflict in the country in the event that it is confirmed that he interfered with the administration of justice in our country. The consequences are ghastly to contemplate in the event that his utterances come to fruition.

I thank you.

Emmanuel Zellers Gumbo
Friends of Job Sikhala Solidarity Trust Spokesperson.