Sikhala bail hearing postponed again

THE bail hearing for MDC Alliance vicechairperson Job Sikhala, who is facing charges of publishing falsehoods, was yesterday deferred to today after the State indicated that the record of his proceedings was incomplete and, therefore, it was not ready for the arguments.

Appearing for the State, Arthur Bhosha told the court that there was a missing page in Sikhala's record of proceedings, hence he needed more time to put the records in order.

Sikhala, who was in leg irons, appeared before judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi.

He is facing charges of communicating falsehoods after he allegedly posted on Facebook that a police officer had killed a nine-month-old child.

He, however, disowned the social media page.

On Friday, Sikhala's bail hearing was postponed to yesterday after the State requested for more time to go through his submissions for bail appeal.

The Zengeza West legislator's lawyers

Jeremiah Bamu and Paidamoyo Saurombe raised concern over Sikhala being brought to court in leg irons.

A prison officer, however, told the court that an officer who had been sent to collect keys to un-cuff him, was yet to return.

Justice Chitapi ordered that Sikhala should not be brought to court in leg irons in future.

Recently, when he appeared before magistrate Ngoni Nduna, Sikhala also complained against being brought to court in leg irons.

His lawyers argued that it was inhumane for him to be in leg irons since he was still awaiting trial and was deemed innocent.

Incarcerated journalist Hopewell Chin'ono, who is also facing a similar charge, also raised the same issue when he appeared before magistrate Lazini Ncube.

Sikhala was arrested on January 9, 2020.