Everyone except Nelson, a closer look at Sikhala`s press statement 

Everyone except Nelson, a closer look at Sikhala`s press statement

Brian Rungano Temba

Citizens Coalition for Change activist Job Sikhala has released a curious press statement aimed at seeking sympathy for him and his 13 co-accused who were arrested on charges of obstructing the law, violence and arson in Nyatsime.

Despite threats, expletives and other unsavory methods to blackmail the judicial system into releasing Sikhala and his accomplices, it is dawning on the 14 that their trial is at this point inevitable.

This prompted the writing of a love letter, meant to soften the hearts and possibly measure temperatures of the world outside.

Thinly veiled as an appreciation letter, the contents of the letter focused more on what Sikhala didn’t say more than what he said.

Sikhala whose friends outside have criticised Chamisa of abandoning him, showered everyone with gratitude except the opposition leader nicknamed Cobra.

“However, the purpose of this statement is not to express disappointment, but rather to express gratitude for your support through various initiatives from the day of our arrest to the present,” his statement read.

He made mention of his legal representatives; Beatrice Mtetwa, Jeremiah Bamu, and Aleck Muchadehama. Sikhala also name dropped his diasporan links on the list of facilitators namely, one Chenai.

Ibbo Mandaza,Tsitsi Dangarembgwa, Hopewell Chin’ono, Themba Mliswa, Rusty Markham, Jacob Ngarivhume, Godfrey Tsenengamu, Joseph Kalimbwe, Freeman Chari were also listed as having played a major role in during his ongoing court trial.

A looming divide between two Factions in CCC is slowly calcifying as Tendai Biti, Fadzayi Mahere, Doug Coltart and Nelson Chamisa were not mentioned in the address.

The assumption would be that they would have supported their soldier in his activism exploits, thus the unspoken rule to mention protocol in appreciation.

That seems not to be the situation in this case.

Job Sikhala, according to CCC deserters that have defected to ZANU-PF over the year, Sikhala is erratic and uncouth in his confrontations.

He was very violent ever since his time in University when they organised demonstrations and riots and even to the extent of marching to go and stone the NSSA building in Harare.

“The higher ups of the CCC which mainly constitutes lawyers, have deemed him very distasteful to be in decision making meetings.

They actually find relief in his absence,” one apostate member testified.

Feeling abandoned and thrown under the bus, Sikhala appears desperate for the support of his family as the top brass in his party are busy criss crossing the Western world, selling their souls to the highest bidder while he languishes in prison.