Sikhala, Sithole convicted of incitement

CCC deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala and Chitungwiza Member of Parliament Godfrey Sithole have been convicted of inciting the public violence that broke out in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza in 2022 after the killing of Ms Moreblessing Ali by a former boyfriend.

The two were convicted after a full trial by Harare magistrate Mrs Tafadzwa Miti who found that Sikhala posted a video encouraging CCC supporters to avenge Ms Ali’s death.

Sithole hired lorries to ferry people from Epworth and other surrounding areas to Nyatsime.

According to the State, 20 families were left homeless following the violence, while 13 shops, six tuckshops and vehicles were extensively damaged after CCC supporters ran amok, indiscriminately attacking residents of Nyatsime.

In passing judgment, Mrs Miti said it was undisputed that it was Sikhala who uttered the words that triggered violence in Nyatsime and these were captured in a video that was posted online.

“Evidence shows that the video was not posted on the accused’s social media platform. The evidence did not establish beyond reasonable doubt that the first accused (Sikhala) did not put the videos, but this does not mean that an offence was not committed.

“From the video evidence it is beyond any doubt that the accused (Sikhala) is the one who uttered the words in the video,” said Mrs Miti.

She noted that there was no evidence of tampering with the video evidence put before the court nor evidence of manipulation that was put before the court.

“Through the words uttered, the accused (Sikhala) clearly incited the people of CCC. Indeed public violence erupted in Nyatsime . . . It is therefore clear that the utterances of the first accused (Sikhala) indeed incited the public to commit violence.”

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