Opinion
More often than not, some of us get accused of being emotional regarding Wiwa’s case, due to our public association with his party, CCC Zimbabwe.
However, when even a layman like myself, with no legal background, follows the case, I’m convinced it’s all lawfare.
Did you know that….?
Job Wiwa Sikhala has now been in pre-trial detention since mid June.
That close to 6 months of being imprisoned without any conviction. What this means is that, the courts are actually yet to sit on the crime he stands accused of committing.
Why hasn’t the trial itself commenced?
Basically, as late as today, the State (which is accusing Wiwa of committing the crime) has been successfully requesting postponement of the trial, on the basis that State isnt ready for trial and is “still gathering evidence”.
Reasons for bail opposition
State argues Wiwa is aware of the seriousness of its case against him, thus risks running away, if granted bail
Ironically, State then contradicts itself and throws its own argument away, by admitting that its “still gathering evidence”.
Put differently, how do you define the seriousness of a crime and the involvement of an accused, outside evidence incriminating the accused, and linking them to the said crime?
By constantly requesting trial postponement, the state is admitting their case’s weaknesses!
Secondly, State argues that there’s risk of Wiwa committing similar crimes, if he’s granted bail.
The basis of that argument is that he has such propensity, because he has been arrested more than 60 times before.
Confusingly, he has been acquited each of the time.
Our courts are basically conceding that you can be illegally and unlawfully arrested many times, and thus become a serial crime offender.
Wiwa is basically being victimized for the state’s propensity to arrest before investigating the supposed crime.Thirdly, State argues that Wiwa is influential (lawyer and MP) and will thus interfere with the evidence and witnesses.
Exposingly, the same State hasn’t identified these “witnesses” and has requested more time to “gather evidence”.
What then will Wiwa interfere with?
As for the actual crime, Wiwa stands accused of instigating violence in Nyatsime, through a statement where he stated that the family of Moreblessing Ali’s murderer will ‘perish’.
Unsurprisingly, not a single member of that family has been a victim of any violence.
Importantly, Wiwa’s co-accused, Hon Sithole, and the innocent citizens collectively known as #Nyatsime 14, previously arrested for executing the said violence, are now all out on bail.
Its only one man now, made to suffer for a weak case that is slowly falling away.
In the midst of all this madness, attention has totally been shifted away from the actual murderer.In other democratic jurisdictions, the full might of the state falls upon perpetrators of such gruesome crimes, particularly where gender and politics are involved.
The State has essentially thrown a blanket of silence, over Pius Jamba.
You would have expected Ministerial statements on the case.
You would have expected state security to act on the ongoing harassment of Ali’s orphaned children by political thugs.
It’s a shame
If the law wasn’t selectively applied, VP Chiwenga would’ve been questioned for his rally statement on ‘squashing CCC like lice’, which led to political violence in Kwekwe & Gokwe, by ZanuPF supporters.
Many other ZanuPF supporters have threated to ‘kill Chamisa’
I personally hope that in a New Zimbabwe, there will be a Roll of Shame.
History must remember all the instigators and perpetrators of political violence.
History must remember the names of women and men who have bastardized and scandalized our courts.
#FreeWiwa
enkosi!!
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Threats Will Not Disrupt People’s Struggle- President Chamisa
