MASVINGO – MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was barred from seeing Zengeza West MP and MDC deputy chairman Job Sikhala, who is being held in prison in Masvingo awaiting his trial.
Chamisa told a rally at Mucheke Stadium that prison officers told him they would be fired if they allowed him to see Sikhala, who last Friday threatened to go on hunger strike after prison officers insisted on listening in on his conversation with his visiting wife.
Sikhala was arrested last week after telling a rally in Bikita that the MDC would “overthrow” President Emmerson Mnangagwa before 2023, when the next elections are due. He has been charged with subverting a constitutional government.
The High Court in Masvingo was set to hear Sikhala’s bail application on Monday.
Chamisa said he first went to Masvingo remand prison but was told that Sikhala was being held at Mutimurefu Prison, about 25km east of Masvingo town.
“I drove there but I was told he is at Masvingo remand prison, so I went back again. At Masvingo remand, they barred me from seeing him. It’s very unfortunate,” Chamisa told supporters.
“The prison guards said they were given instructions to first call their seniors. They then called their superiors and told me ‘we will be fired if we let you in’. I waited for 30 minutes as they called their seniors in Harare.
“Maybe their seniors were calling ED (Emmerson Dambudzo). I kept on waiting until they said they don’t know what to do.
“Later, riot police and the Dispol (officer commanding district) came, they said they wanted to check the situation as they feared there may be commotion. But even though I’m the president of the MDC, I’m also a lawyer by profession. Again, arrested people still have their rights. So, I told them I will no longer bother you. I will take other measures.”
