Detained Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Job Sikhala, has set up a trust fund to solicit for financial support from well-wishers who wish to support his family.
Sikhala has been imprisoned for a year on charges of incitement to commit violence and disorderly conduct stemming from his attendance at the funeral of Moreblessing Ali, a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist who had been missing for three weeks before her mutilated body was discovered on June 11, last year.
According to David Coltart, a human rights lawyer and fellow member of CCC, a new Notarial Deed called The Sikhala Family Trust has been established to assist Sikhala and his family.
“I recently visited Honourable Job Sikhala at Chikurubi Maximum Prison where he signed before me a new Notarial Deed named The Sikhala Family Trust, which is designed to support him and his family. The Trustees of the new Trust are a prominent Bulawayo lawyer and a Bulawayo-based pastor,” Coltart said on his Twitter account on Wednesday.
Coltart confirmed the Sikhala Family Trust was lawfully created and well-wishers could contact him for assistance.
“Yesterday the Deed was completed and now there is a lawful Sikhala Family Trust in place which can receive donations from well-wishers. The law firm Webb, Low and Barry has been instructed by the Trust to manage the Trust. Those who wish to assist the Sikhala family please inbox me,” said the human rights lawyer.
Sikhala was arrested on June 14, 2022, alongside fellow opposition legislator, Godfrey Sithole, and 14 other CCC activists, and has been held at Chikurubi Maximum-security prison in Harare.
On May 3, 2023, Sikhala was convicted of obstructing justice and was given a wholly suspended six months sentence with an option of paying US$ 600 or spending six months in jail.
Sikhala’s trial was linked to a video posted on the internet in which he is accused of saying that the ruling Zanu PF party had killed Ali.
Sikhala denied making the video and an expert witness testified in court that the footage had been tampered with.
However, following his conviction and sentencing, Sikhala remained in custody, even if he paid the fine, as he awaits trial for two other charges of incitement to commit violence and disorderly conduct.
