AS Zimbabwe descends further into authoritarianism, opposition activist Job Sikhala has emerged as a symbol of resistance against autocratic rule.
Nicknamed “Wiwa”, in a nod to the late Nigerian activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, Sikhala has endured relentless persecution in his unwavering fight for freedom and social justice.
Much like Saro-Wiwa, who was executed in 1995 for challenging General Sani Abacha’s military dictatorship and defending the rights of the Ogoni people, Sikhala has borne the brunt of a repressive system determined to crush dissent.
His life has been a continuous battle against the Zanu PF government’s tightening grip on civil liberties. In 2022, the former Zengeza West legislator was arrested on charges of inciting public violence following the gruesome murder of opposition activist Moreblessing Ali.
What followed was a drawn-out legal ordeal that saw him detained for over a year without trial, further exposing the fragility of Zimbabwe’s judiciary and its worsening human rights record.
While Sikhala languished in prison, human rights organisations repeatedly cited his case as a glaring example of how Zimbabwean authorities have weaponised the law to silence political opponents.
The strategy is not new. From Kamuzu Banda’s Malawi to Idi Amin’s Uganda and Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire, dictatorships have long relied on oppressive laws to stifle fundamental freedoms such as expression, assembly, and association.
A 2022 report titled Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: Persecution by Prosecution in the Case of Zengeza West Opposition Member of Parliament Job Sikhala condemned the Zimbabwean government for its systematic use of “lawfare” to neutralise dissent.
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The report described Sikhala’s prolonged detention as both cruel and unconstitutional, highlighting the broader implications for the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
“Sikhala has been in remand prison at Chikurubi Maximum Prison from 24 June 2022 to date. He did not commit any criminal offence but was simply representing the family of the murdered Moreblessing Ali to seek justice in his capacity as a registered lawyer,” said Obert Chinhamo, director of the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa, who authored the report.
This week, Sikhala — now leading the National Democratic Working Group — was arrested once again, this time on what he dismissed as baseless charges after convening a meeting for nationwide consultations.
He was charged under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (Mopa), a law increasingly used to suppress opposition activities.
“Mopa does not sanction the notification of executive meetings. It is like Zanu PF seeking police clearance to hold its Politburo meetings,” Sikhala remarked.
In functional democracies, laws exist to safeguard citizens’ rights. But when democracy erodes, as is the case in Zimbabwe, authoritarian regimes twist the legal system into a tool of repression.
