A Harare magistrate has sentenced Sikhala and his co-accused, MP Godfrey Sithole, to a two-year, wholly suspended term for five years. Sikhala, who was the Ali family lawyer, was accused of having used social media to encourage the violence. Convicting the duo, the trial magistrate said evidence showed that Sikhala, then a member of parliament, and Sithole were responsible for the violence. The courts granted Sithole bail after five months in remand, but Sikhala's several applications for bail failed. According to his lawyer, he is still facing charges of disorderly conduct, inciting violence and publishing falsehoods.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 30, 2024 08:46 UTC