Job Sikhala, a former political prisoner from Zimbabwe, gave a powerful speech at the UN 16th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Sikhala, a lawyer and former opposition member of Parliament, has been arrested 68 times in his nearly 30-year political career. His latest arrest was on June 14, 2022.
Sikhala spoke about his time in prison and the harsh treatment he received. He was arrested because he helped the family of Moreblessing Ali, an opposition activist who was murdered. Ali’s body was found in a deep well. For helping her family, Sikhala was jailed for 595 days in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. He faced many abuses like solitary confinement, lack of food, no medical care, and no access to his lawyer.
In prison, Sikhala was treated very badly. He was chained to a hospital bed when he was very sick. He faced many trials under false charges. The government wanted to silence him before the 2023 elections. President Mnangagwa’s government arrested Sikhala to reduce his influence, showing how they target those who speak against them.
Sikhala’s family and supporters also suffered. His wife, Ellen, was arrested for a minor traffic offense to stop her from helping him. His law practice was shut down. Six university students were arrested for supporting Sikhala. This shows the government’s harsh actions against anyone who supports the opposition.
In his speech, Sikhala talked about the suffering of many Zimbabweans. He described a country where torture, brutality, and economic problems are common. The government tries to stop all opposition to stay in power. This has destroyed many freedoms in Zimbabwe. New laws are making it even harder to speak freely and protest peacefully.
Sikhala also spoke about other issues. He talked about problems in education and health. Many young people in Zimbabwe cannot get a good education and are turning to drugs. He also mentioned the droughts in Southern Africa that are causing a humanitarian crisis. He stressed the need for fair distribution of international aid in Zimbabwe.
Sikhala’s speech was not just about his own suffering. He called for international help. He asked for global support against the persecution of human rights activists. He also asked for support for the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), which aims to bring back democracy in Zimbabwe.
By telling his story, Sikhala wants justice for himself and his fellow citizens. He hopes to inspire a global response against oppression. He ended his speech with a prayer for blessings on all the attendees, showing his hope and faith in united efforts to fight for human rights and democracy. The international community now has the important task of responding to these calls for help. If they remain silent, the oppressors will only become stronger, and the people of Zimbabwe will continue to suffer.