This morning in Pretoria, the long and painful story of Job Sikhala takes another turn. His trial for alleged illegal possession of explosives begins in South Africa. For many of us who follow politics in Zimbabwe, this case does not feel like normal justice. It feels like yet another chapter in the long persecution of a man whose only real crime is speaking against ZANU PF.
Sikhala was arrested on November 6, 2025, in Pretoria together with his uncle, Alexander Thema. South African police say they found 26 blasting cartridges and 15 connector cap fusers in his vehicle. From that moment, the headlines were written and the damage was done. He was charged with illegal possession of explosives, a very serious charge that paints him as dangerous before he even steps into court.
After spending some days in custody, Sikhala was granted bail of R10 000 by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on November 13, 2024. The bail came with heavy conditions. He was ordered to surrender his passport and told to remain in South Africa until the case is finished. For a politician who lives under constant pressure, this meant being stuck outside his home country while his name was dragged through the mud.
Sikhala’s supporters and his lawyers have been clear from the start. They say this arrest was a political setup. They believe it was a sting operation planned to silence him. This belief did not come from nowhere. Sikhala is one of the loudest critics of the ZANU PF government. He has spent many years being chased, arrested, and harassed because he refuses to keep quiet.
Before this South African case, Sikhala had already suffered deeply in Zimbabwe. He spent 595 days in pretrial detention before his release in early 2024. That long detention broke many people, but it did not break him. Instead, it showed how far the state is willing to go to punish dissent without even proving guilt.
What makes this case even more disturbing is what happened before his arrest in South Africa. In August 2025, there was a bombing at his home. To this day, there has been no real closure or justice around that incident. When you place that attack next to his later arrest, it is hard to believe these events are just accidents. They look like part of a wider pattern of intimidation.
Job Sikhala has been arrested about 70 times for his political activities. That number alone should shock anyone who still believes Zimbabwe has rule of law. No normal democracy arrests one person that many times just for speaking. This is what persecution looks like when it is dressed up as law enforcement.
As his trial starts today, many Zimbabweans are watching closely. We are not just watching a court case in Pretoria. We are watching how far the system will go to crush a voice of resistance. Sikhala’s story is not only about him. It is about a country where opposing ZANU PF comes with endless punishment, fear, and suffering. Until that system changes, stories like this will continue, and justice will remain a dream for many.
For activists like me, this trial reminds us why the struggle continues. It shows that even outside Zimbabwe, the long arm of political battles can follow you. Sikhala now stands in a foreign court, fighting to clear his name, while his enemies enjoy power back home. Whether he wins or loses this case, the truth remains clear. He is targeted because he speaks for the people. That truth cannot be buried forever. Zimbabwe will only heal when voices like Sikhala are free, safe, and respected truly
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