Job Sikhala, a senior member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and his accomplice, Godfrey Sithole, Member of Parliament for Chitungwiza, will discover their fate tomorrow as they await sentencing for charges of inciting public violence. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza, in 2022.
Both the State and the defence counsel presented their final submissions in aggravation and mitigation, respectively, ahead of tomorrow’s verdict. The two individuals were found guilty after a full trial by Harare Magistrate, Tafadzwa Miti.
The conviction relates to a video posted by Sikhala, in which he encouraged supporters of the CCC to avenge the death of Ali. Subsequently, lorries were reportedly hired to transport individuals from Epworth and surrounding areas in Chitungwiza to Nyatsime.
According to the State, the outbreak of violence resulted in 20 families being displaced from their homes. Additionally, 13 shops, six tuck-shops, and several vehicles suffered extensive damage as CCC supporters allegedly unleashed attacks on residents of Nyatsime.
During the recent court proceedings, Magistrate Miti affirmed that Sikhala’s words in the video were the trigger for the subsequent violence in Nyatsime. The court found no evidence of tampering or manipulation presented before it.
Magistrate Miti also emphasized that Sithole provided transportation to those who ultimately engaged in the violent acts in Nyatsime. As a result, the court was convinced that both individuals were responsible for the crime of incitement to commit violence.
