The High Court has granted a ZW$50,000 bail to MDC-Alliance deputy chair Job Sikhala who had spent a month detained at Chikurubi Maximum Prison on charges of inciting public violence.
Justice Erica Ndewere granted strict bail conditions to Sikhal.
Sikhala, who was repesented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) was arrested last month for alllegedly organising the foiled July 31 demonstrations.
Sikhala’s freedom comes a few weeks after journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and smaller opposition party leader Jacob Ngarivhume were freed on bail for similar charges.
“ZLHR is grateful to its lawyers Advocate Eric Matinenga, Harrison Nkomo and Jeremiah Bamu for working tirelessly since 21 August 2020, when Hon. Sikhala was arrested and deprived of his freedom,” the rights lawyers said after Sikhala’s arrest.
As part of his bail conditions, Justice Ndewere ordered Hon. Sikhala to report three times a week at St Mary’s Police Station in Chitungwiza, surrender his passport, continue residing at his given residential address and not to interfere with state witnesses.
Justice Ndewere barred the MDC-Alliance MP from posting videos or audios on social media with content likely to incite violence and not to address any gathering or virtual meetings with content likely to incite public violence.
