Detained Sikhala, Sithole Salute Fellow MPs For Their Support
Detained opposition legislators, Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole have paid saluted fellow legislators, who were fighting for their release, NewZimbabwe reported.
Sikhala and Sithole together with 15 Nyatsime residents were arrested in June this year over the June 14 violence which erupted in Nyatsime during the funeral wake of slain Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist, Moreblessing Ali.
Their efforts to get bail have not yielded any positive results. In a statement, Sikhala and Sithole said:
The purpose of this statement is not to express regret, sadness, or disappointment, but rather to express gratitude for your support through various initiatives from the day of our arrest to the present.
On numerous occasions, we have heard the roars of our colleagues in Parliament, the Honourable Temba Mliswa and the Honourable Rusty Markham.
We appreciate your efforts, brothers, in demanding justice in our case. It is heartwarming to know that you understand and appreciate our inner pain and are actively doing something about it.
We can not hide the fact that we have suffered for the past four months. As humans, there is a certain amount of pain and suffering we can endure.
A lot has been happening during our incarceration, which we strongly feel is unjustified and most importantly unlawful, as it violates the fundamental pillars of constitutionalism and the rule of law.
The two legislators’ failure to mention their party in the statement has, however, triggered debate in political corridors with some suggesting that it could be a sign of bad blood between the MPs and the leaders of the CCC.
The opposition party downplayed the issue, saying on Twitter;
Please note that they did so because they did a first statement last week which was focusing on thanking the party and party champions for the solidarity.
They do the statements now and then focusing on certain issues that the detained Champions see fit to address.
In their fifth failed attempt to secure bail, Ellen Shiriyedenga was the only influential CCC member appearing in solidarity with Sikhala and Sithole.
CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa was reportedly in Bikita attending the burial of a little-known member, while the MPs were appearing in court which attracted criticism from some of his followers.
While there are some who accuse the party of not doing enough to secure the release of its detained members, the CCC has maintained that it was strategising behind the scenes to get bail for the MPs.
