Sikhala arrest ‘aimed at linking him to Harare bombings,’ says NDWG spokesperson

HARARE – The arrest of Zimbabwean opposition leader Job Sikhala in South Africa was part of a calculated plan to associate him with a series of recent bombings in Harare, according to Isaya Ndawana, spokesperson for the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG).

Ndawana told Channel Africa that Sikhala’s arrest on Friday night in Pretoria was “a planned thing” designed to portray him as the mastermind behind attacks targeting venues linked to activists opposing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s proposed term extension beyond 2028.

“Before the onset of the press conference at SAPES Trust in Belgravia on 28 October, there was a bombing in the early hours of that day, and concurrently, a house in Highfields was also bombed,” Ndawana said.

“This was planned to make it appear that Honourable Job Sikhala was responsible.”

He claimed the explosives found in Sikhala’s car were planted to strengthen that narrative.

“We cannot rule out power play because Honourable Sikhala cannot be such a foolish man to carry a load of explosives knowingly that it’s illegal,” he added.

“It was a planned thing to make sure that activities which were carried out back home were linked to him,” Ndawana said.

Sikhala (53) and his uncle Alexander Thema (78) were arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Pretoria after officers allegedly discovered explosives in their vehicle during a routine search.

Both men deny any knowledge of the materials and remain detained at Pretoria Central Prison.

In a statement issued on 7 November, the National Democratic Working Group said Sikhala was a victim of “suspected foul play” and insisted the explosives did not belong to him.

NDWG deputy spokesperson Silenkosi Moyo said the group’s legal team was working on his defence and appealed to the public to “keep Honourable Sikhala in their thoughts and prayers.”

“Our legal team is actively engaged on-site, working diligently to ensure the best possible defence for Honourable Sikhala. We categorically maintain that the explosives found do not belong to him.

“As the National Democratic Working Group, we stand unwaveringly beside our leader and reaffirm our commitment to defending him through all legal means available,” the organisation stated.

Sikhala, a long-time opposition politician and leader of the NDWG, is expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court today (Monday) to face charges of illegal possession of explosives.

His supporters maintain that the arrest is politically motivated and intended to silence one of Zimbabwe’s most outspoken government critics.