Harare (New Ziana) –The trial of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) chairman Job Sikhala, who is facing obstruction of justice charges was on Monday deferred to Thursday as the presiding magistrate, Marehwanazvo Gova was not available.
Gova last Tuesday deferred the matter to Monday following a request by the state for more time to study video evidence which the defence had presented before the court.
Prosecutor Pardon Dziva had suggested that the trial resumes on Thursday but Sikhala’s lawyer Jeremiah Bhamu told the court that his partner would not be available on that day.
Bhamu then suggested that on Thursday the defence team would have to agree with the court on another date when all the parties would be present, to which magistrate Stanley Mambanje who heard the matter, agreed, before deferring the matter.
Job Sikhala has been languishing in remand prison since June last year, when he was arrested together with 14 fellow members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in connection with the violence which erupted in the Nyatsime area of Chitungwiza during the funeral of Moreblessing Ali.
His 14 co-accused suspects were freed on bail in November last year.
The High Court has dismissed several applications for bail by Sikhala, citing his propensity to reoffend.
Charges against him are based on his allegations that the ruling Zanu PF had murdered Ali, who the CCC claimed was its supporter.
Ali’s mutilated body was found in a well at a deserted farm in the Beatrice area, a few kilometres from the murder scene.
Police investigations established that the murder of Ali was not politically motivated after they arrested the major suspect, her former boyfriend Pius Jamba, who confessed to the killing.
The deserted farm where the mutilated body was found belongs to Jamba’s mother.
New Ziana
