FIREBRAND MDC Alliance deputy chairperson, Job Sikhala Sunday warned President Mnangagwa\u2019s regime not to push him to the edge through continued detention of a party activist over a minor offence.<\/p>\n
Terrence Manjengwa (26) has been detained for over 50 days without trial.<\/p>\n
He was arrested outside the Harare Magistrates\u2019 Court after leading a handful staunch Sikhala supporters in a brief protest demanding the release of the Zengeza West MP who was appearing before the same court.<\/p>\n
Manjengwa, who clocked 50 days in jail on Sunday, has since been charged with criminal nuisance and is detained at Harare Remand Prison.<\/p>\n
The Harare Magistrates\u2019 Court denied him bail and his bid to regain his freedom through the High Court has been kept on hold for the past three weeks without a ruling.<\/p>\n
Sikhala, also a lawyer, is now threatening unspecified action against Mnangagwa\u2019s administration if the activist continued languishing in jail without trial.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nonsense of punishing people before trial must come to an end,\u201d Sikhala told NewZimbabwe.com Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow would a normal country with a properly functioning judiciary system honestly refuse an accused person bail for a charge of criminal nuisance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis must be brought to the world so that everything wrong with our state is exposed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sikhala continued, \u201cThis is what is called shaming oneself, not what Terrence did.<\/p>\n
\u201cRelease this young man as soon as possible. Otherwise I will spring from the slumber. I don\u2019t give empty threats. It\u2019s not part of my DNA.<\/p>\n
\u201cRelease Terrence Manjengwa. Stop doing this kind of nonsense in our country. On Tuesday I am going to address a press conference concerning the abuse of this young man. Enough is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sikhala said the prolonged detention of Manjengwa without trial was proof the judicial system in Zimbabwe has been captured.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey arrested him (Manjengwa) for a charge of criminal nuisance. Since then, he has spent 50 days in remand prison with courts refusing to grant him bail on the grounds he shamed the State.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo stupid are grounds for refusing him bail that people tend to question themselves whether Zimbabwe still has any judiciary to talk about. Does anyone need to shame a regime which is a shame for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sikhala said he has since been supporting Manjengwa\u2019s family with basic welfare needs including sending food to the activist in prison.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am taking care of the family\u2019s household needs, rentals and food. I am also sending the young man food to prison and have been always checking on his welfare,\u201d he said. \u2013 Newzim<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FIREBRAND MDC Alliance deputy chairperson, Job Sikhala Sunday warned President Mnangagwa\u2019s regime not to push him to the edge through continued detention of a party activist over a minor offence. Terrence Manjengwa (26) has been detained for over 50 days without trial. He was arrested outside the Harare Magistrates\u2019 Court after leading a handful staunch […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":9939,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12],"tags":[88,762],"class_list":{"0":"post-29102","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-policy","9":"tag-mdc","10":"tag-sikhala"},"yoast_head":"\n