Sikhala Bail Ruling Reserved

The bail hearing of MDC-A deputy chairperson Job Sikhala finally kicked off at the High Court Wednesday before Justice Tawanda Chitapi, after an incomplete record had stalled proceedings on Tuesday.

However, Justice Chitapi reserved his ruling for Monday next week at 2.15pm after hearing submissions from both parties.

Sikhala is appealing for the court to grant him freedom on charges of peddling falsehoods.

Making submissions, his lead counsel Jeremiah Bamu told Justice Chitapi that new circumstances had arisen that favoured Sikhala to be freed after Hopewell Chin’ono and MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere were charged on similar offences but were granted bail.

Bamu said the two also had two pending cases each before the courts and were granted bail whereas Sikhala only has one pending case before the courts thus should be treated likewise.

The State led by Tozivepi Mapfuwo argued that this held no merit as Sikhala was not jointly charged with them. Mapfuwo further submitted that Sikhala committed the offence whilst on bail over another offence which discredited him from being a suitable candidate for bail. Nhau/Indaba