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Citizens Coalition for Change Legislators Willias Madzimure and Charlton Hwende, on Thursday took Minister of Justice Ziyambi Ziyambi to task, as they were demanding him to address the issue of Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole.
Sikhala and Sithole were arrested in June this year, on allegations of inciting public violence during the memorial service of CCC activist Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime area.
CCC legislators for Kambuzuma and Kuwadzana East said every individual has the right to be given bail before their final judgement.
“Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. My issue pertains to the state of our prisons, the population of prisoners in our prisons and also the issue that it takes a long time for prisoners to go to the courts.
“Some go for a long time without getting bail. Section 52 of the Constitution talks about the rights of prisoners who are allowed to go to the courts as soon as possible unless if there are issues which prohibit them from doing so.
“The Criminal Procedure Evidence Act says that every individual has the right to be given bail before going for their final judgment. This allows the depopulation of prisons but the challenge is that there are some prisoners who are continuously denied bail despite the fact that they are not a flight risk.
“We also have prisoners who are incarcerated who include Members of Parliament of this august House who have 100 days in prison without being given bail. So I just want the Minister of Justice to come and speak regarding that issue. We have Hon. Sikhala and Hon Sithole who are still incarcerated,” said Madzimure.
Hwende added that, “ I am saying they must allow you to explain to us because this is a very important matter to us. We have two Members of Parliament who are suffering in jail and they are making noise. He is telling me that I must go to jail. What is that? He is the Government Chief Whip.”
However Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, told Madzimure to submit his name to the chief whip for next week’s question and answer session.
“I said yesterday, the Minister of Justice was here and he could have asked the question and normally we go by the list. If your question is still burning, approach Hon. Mutseyami so that you are at the top of the list for next week,” said Mudenda.
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