BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE OPPOSITION Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators Job Sikhala (Zengeza West) and Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North) were again denied bail by Harare magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka.
The duo’s lawyers, Jeremiah Bhamu and Beatrice Mtetwa had filed an application for bail saying the State’s failure to provide evidence meant that its investigations on the matter were not complete.
The State, however, submitted that the matter has been given a trial date of November 21, and it was ready to prove the allegations.
Chakanyuka ruled that nothing has been placed before the court to prove that the basis for which they have been denied bail on initial remand has been addressed.
She further ruled that the passage of time was not enough reason to grant the two Members of Parliament (MPs) bail. Chakanyuka said Sikhala had shown total disregard of bail orders.
However, after the dismissal of their bail application for the third time, the two MPs filed an application for removal from remand saying the State will always use summons when it is ready for trial.
Chakanyuka will make a ruling on the application today. Sikhala and Sithole have been in remand prison for more than two months after they gave a speech at the funeral of murdered CCC member Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime, which the State say incited people to commit public violence.
Sikhala also faces obstruction of justice charges. The State accuses him of linking the ruling Zanu PF party to the murder of Ali who was found dumped in a pit at the residence of his alleged killer who is suspected to be a Zanu PF member.
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