Staff Reporter

Incarcerated Citizens Coalition for Change Interim co-vice chairperson and Member of Parliament for Zengeza West, Job Sikhala has been denied bail citing reasons that he is a habitual and unrepentant offender.

Harare Magistrate, Tafadzwa Miti who presided over the bail application by Sikhala said the CCC legislator had proven that he was unrepentant as he had committed the same offense 63 times before.

“The accused was out on bail on a similar offence unlike his co-accused. A judicial officer cannot sit and determine an issue that has been dealt with by another.

“His arrest for more than 63 times on similar charges is proof enough that there is a propensity to commit offences,” said Magistrate Miti.

Sikhala had made a bail application citing that his circumstances had changed after his alleged accomplice Godfrey Sithole was released on a ZW$50 000 bail. In response, Magistrate Miti highlighted that Sikhala and Sithole’s circumstances differed as the other was a habitual offender.

“The changed circumstances that his co-accused was released on bail will not apply as the number of times he has been arrested is proof that he is an incorrigible and unrepentant criminal,” he added.

Magistrate Miti added that granting of bail to Sikhala would defeat the justice system and therefore application was dismissed.

“The granting of bail will jeopardise the criminal justice system, therefore the application for bail on changed circumstances is dismissed,” said Magistrate Miti.

Sikhala is remanded in prison. He is accused of inciting violence which resulted in arson, assault, looting and destruction of properties in Nyatsime. This is not the first time that Sikhala has been involved in cases of inciting violence