‘Stop treating us like terrorists’, Job Sikhala friends say after solidarity march blocked

Group appalled Sikhala name evokes state rancour

By Tapiwa Svondo

The Job Sikhala Solidarity Council has warned the state against treating the movement as a terrorist group in comments that followed a police ban on a march which had been planned to press for the jailed opposition politician’s unconditional release.

The blocked march had been planned for 23 December.

Police said in prohibition notice to the movement that the planned event did not meet requirements outlined in the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA).

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @zimstar_news

Activists say the excuse was a familiar justification by authorities keen to curtail citizens’ rights to assemble and associate.

In a statement to register displeasure over the ban, firebrand activist Obert Masaraure, national organiser for the movement, said the mention of Job Sikhala’s name has tended to invite repression from the state.

“While Job Sikhala has been detained for more than 18 months, the council contends that the authorities still exhibit apprehension at the mere mention of Sikhala’s name.

“The council warned the Mnangagwa regime against treating the Sikhala Solidarity movement as a terrorist group, emphasising that the movement utilises lawful means to exert pressure on the Harare regime for the release of Sikhala, whom they consider a political prisoner,” he said.

Masaraure stressed the movement was employing constitutional means to press for the unconditional release of the politician, who remains in state custody over a slew of alleged offences stemming from his cutting-edge activism.

He vowed more activities to demand the release of the politician were on the way, insisting no amount of state interference will deter them. TWITTER: @zimstar_news