66 days in jail without trial, ‘Manjengwa now considered a threat’

By Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Terrence Manjengwa who was arrested in August after conducting a protest demanding the release of MDC Alliance Vice Chairman Job Sikhala, has now spent 66 days in jail without trial, breaking a 20 year pre-trial record excluding Gukurahundi prisoners during the 1980s.

Manjengwa staged a protest together with other MDC Alliance activists at the Harare Regional Magistrates Court demanding the release of Sikhala, who had been arrested and charged with inciting violence in connection with 31st July demonstrations against corruption.

He is currently detained at Harare Remand Prison after being charged with criminal nuisance. He was denied bail by the magistrates court and is waiting for bail ruling at the High Court.

Sikhala went to the remand prison with the intention to see Munjengwa but he was denied access by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).

The Zengeza West legislator was worried that the acting Commissioner General Chikobvu said Munjengwa was a threat.

“Dear Zimbabweans, today I went to Harare Remand prison to see Terrence Manjengwa and the prison authorities through the Acting Commissioner General Chikobvu denied me authority to see him. I had a 30 minutes meeting with the said Commissioner General but said Terrence is a threat,” Sikhala said.

Sikhala has since castigated President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for incarcerating Manjengwa, more than 66 days without trial.

“They arrested him (Manjengwa) for a charge of criminal nuisance. Since then, he has spent 50 (now 66) days in remand prison with courts refusing to grant him bail on the grounds he shamed the State.

“So stupid are grounds for refusing him bail that people tend to question themselves whether Zimbabwe still has any judiciary to talk about. Does anyone need to shame a regime which is a shame for itself.

“I am taking care of the family’s household needs, rentals and food. I am also sending the young man food to prison and have been always checking on his welfare,” Sikhala said.

The 31st July protests were convened by opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume who spent 45 days at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison together with journalist Hopewell Chin’ono. They were also charged with “inciting violence’. Nehanda Radio