Job Sikhala

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Job Sikhala, nicknamed Wiwa (born 1972), is a Zimbabwean politician.

Career

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Sikhala is the current chairman of the National Democratic Working Group, he has been the member of parliament for Zengeza West. He is formerly a member of parliament for the St Mary's constituency.

Sikhala was born in the former Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, in 1972. He graduated from Mazungunye High School in Bikita,[1] and went on to the University of Zimbabwe, where he received a bachelor's degree in history and economic history and a law degree.[1][2] At university, he was involved with student activism.[3]

In 1999, Sikhala joined the Movement for Democratic Change at its inception and was part of the national executive of the party. In the 2000 elections, he was elected to parliament from the St. Mary's constituency. In the party schism of 2005, Sikhala followed Welshman Ncube and was part of the MDC–N. In 2014 Sikhala further split from the MDC-N to create the MDC 99 faction.[4] After the reunification of the MDC in 2018, Sikhala replaced Tendai Biti as Deputy National Chairman in May 2019.[5]

In 2019, Sikhala was charged by the Zimbabwe government with treason.[6][7] In February 2020, he was cleared of those charges.[8][9] On January 30, 2024, Job Sikhala was sentenced to two years in prison, wholly suspended. He was released from custody to form a new political party called Zimbabwe Rainbow Coalition, which he is the founding President. Job Sikhala is accused by the authorities of inciting violence.[10] He was convicted for inciting violence on social media, but managed to evade jail time after being given a nine month suspended sentence and a $500 fine.[11]

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b "The True Life Story Of Job Sikhala". Gambakwe Media. 8 October 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Job Sikhala". BBC News. 13 June 2003. Archived from the original on 18 June 2003.
  3. ^ Matikinye, Ray (13 October 2007). "Sikhala says funding claims a hoax". The Zimbabwe Independent. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020.
  4. ^ Mudimu, Leslie (23 August 2017). "Tsvangirai's MDC has slowly evolved into a version of Zanu-PF". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Zimbabwe: Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), including political status, organizational structure, leadership, activities, relationship with other political parties, and membership cards; treatment of MDC members by authorities (2017-May 2019)". European Country of Origin Information Network of the Austrian Red Cross’ department ACCORD. 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020.
  6. ^ Kumbuka, Desmond; Marawanyika, Godfrey (9 July 2019). "Zimbabwe Opposition Official Charged With Treason, Lawyers Say". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Zimbabwe opposition MP arrested on treason charges: lawyer". The Citizen. Gauteng, South Africa. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Zimbabwe opposition MP cleared of treason". bbc.com. 14 February 2020 – via GhanaWeb.
  9. ^ "Zimbabwe opposition MP cleared of treason". BBC News. 14 February 2020. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Zimbabwe: Job Sikhala, figure de l'opposition, est sorti de prison". Radio France Internationale (in French). 30 January 2024. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Zimbabwe: Opposition figure sentenced to nine months In prison". AfricaNews. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
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