Zimbabwean opposition politician and government critic Job Sikhala was arrested in South Africa on Friday for possession of explosives, his brother confirmed to AFP.
South African police reported detaining two men in a vehicle carrying 26 blasting cartridges and detonating devices. The men, aged 53 and 78, were not immediately identified, pending their court appearance on Monday. Zimbabwean media and reports from South Africa suggested that the younger man was Sikhala, a former lawmaker with the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party.
Sikhala’s brother, Harry Sikhala, said lawyers had informed him of the arrest. “He has been arrested, as far as I know,” he told AFP. Sikhala was stopped alongside his uncle while returning from a meeting with friends. Harry Sikhala added that it was unclear how the explosives ended up in the vehicle.
Job Sikhala was released in January 2024 after serving over a year and a half in prison for inciting public violence. Supporters claimed his pre-trial detention, which lasted nearly 600 days, was politically motivated. After his release, Sikhala expressed uncertainty about his political future, stating that his incarceration had eroded much of his personal and political life.
The arrest comes amid heightened political tensions in Zimbabwe. Last month, the ruling Zanu-PF party announced plans to support constitutional changes that could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term. Since succeeding Robert Mugabe in 2017, Mnangagwa’s government has detained multiple civil rights activists and opposition figures, raising concerns about political freedom in the country.
Sikhala’s detention in South Africa adds another layer to the ongoing political unrest in Zimbabwe. Observers say the arrest highlights the precarious situation for opposition politicians in the region, as governments continue to navigate both internal and cross-border security concerns.
