Paul Nyathi
Tensions were high both inside and outside the court as MDC deputy chairman Job Sikhala was denied bail on Thursday following his arrest on August 21 accused of incitement of public violence.
As the Magistrate was some what expectantly denied Sikhala bail inside the court, nine MDC Alliance members who were attending the court in solidarity with Sikhala were arrested by the police on yet to be established charges.
Terence Manjengwa who was last week briefly arrested by the police for telling a police officer that government was under paying them was one of the people arrested outside the court.
Sources indicated that the full list of MDC Alliance supporters arrested by the police include Dambudzo mhike, Brian mushakwe, Terrence Manjengwa, Barnabas Gura, Blessed Changara, Dorothy Musungavarume, Richard Mangena, Last Mangena and Tafadzwa Mangoya.
The group was reportedly taken away to Harare Central Police Station.
Denying Sikhala bail, Magistrate Ncube said Sikhala was arrested while evading police by hiding inside the ceiling of the house he was in.
“Cumulatively the witnesses had no reasons to lie against the accused,” Ncube said. “If he had gone to collect his wife (from the house), then why was he hiding in the ceiling? It shows he was avoiding justice.”
The magistrate further refused to believe that Sikhala may not have known that he was wantes by the police as they issued a statement days before the July 31 planned anti-government protests, saying Sikhala was wanted for an “interview”.
“Assuming that he never saw the press statement, from the videos it shows that he was somehow aware that the police was looking for him,” Lazini said. “He was aware that the police was already looking for him. If he was not hiding, he should have surrendered himself to the police. It was incumbent on the accused to approach the nearest police station to check for his name, but he went on to shoot some videos which he publicised.”
“In light of this evidence, this court is of the view that this candidate is not suitable for bail and it is hereby denied,” the magistrate ruled.