More than US$3 000 has been raised for incarcerated former Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala’s medical needs. As of yesterday, £2 869 (US$3 490) had been raised against a target of £5 000 (US$6 079) since the fundraising campaign began on October 10.
The Go-Fund initiative was organised by Estelle Adams-Stone after NewsDay’s sister publication, The Standard, exclusively revealed that Sikhala’s health was deteriorating.
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) politician, who has spent 16 months in remand prison on a charge of inciting violence, has been reportedly passing bloody stool.
Local donations are being made directly to Sikhala’s wife, Ellen, on her EcoCash number 0779 496 669. Sikhala family spokesperson Freddy Masarirevu could not comment on the former legislator’s health status as he was rushing to court.
Adams-Stone, however, said: “This Go-Fund is to help his family with day-to-day needs and the medication that Sikhala needs.
“Please give whatever you can to assist this man who has been persecuted repeatedly for standing up for his people’s rights and freedom.”
Sikhala is being accused of disorderly conduct and obstructing the course of justice in June last year at the funeral wake of slain CCC activist, Moreblessing Ali. But CCC claims that Sikhala is a political prisoner.
Addressing African Union ambassadors affiliated to Zimbabwe in Harare on Monday, Foreign Affairs acting minister Amon Murwira, however, said there were no political prisoners in the country.
In other news – Sudanese refugees starve to death in Chad
There’ve been dire warnings about the plight of refugees escaping the conflict in Sudan. Forty-two Sudanese refugees are reported to have died in eastern Chad last week, due to severe shortages of food and drinking water, as well as the spread of disease – such as malaria.
Sudan’s assistant commissioner for refugees, Mujib al-Rahman Muhammad, said those most badly affected were women, children and the elderly. Read More
