Outspoken opposition politician Job Sikhala says he is lucky to be alive as he alleged the state has been trailing him to try and pin him down on trumped up charges.
He made the comments, a day before he was arrested in South Africa on charges of carrying explosives in his car.
According to police, the arrest followed a tip-off about a Ford Fiesta believed to be transporting explosives in Pretoria.
Police officers allegedly discovered 26 blasting cartridges and 15 capped fuse connectors, leading to Sikhala’s arrest.
He was in the company of his relative and they are set to appear in court tomorrow.
The National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), which he leads, said Sikhala was a victim of state sponsored foul-play.
“Honourable Sikhala was subjected to what is believed to be suspected foul play, as the vehicle in which he was travelling was stopped and searched by officers of the South Africa Police Service (SAPS),” NDWG deputy national spokesperson, Silenkosi Moyo, said in a statement.
“We categorically maintain that the explosives found do not belong to him.
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“As the NDWG, we stand unwaveringly beside our leader and reaffirm our commitment to defending him through all legal means available.”
Sikhala has been arrested for more than 70 times in Zimbabwe.
“I am the most jailed politician in the country, if I can recount properly, I have been incarcerated more than 70 times dating back from my time at University of Zimbabwe,” he told Standard People.
“And in all those times, I have been proven to be innocent, it means that I am someone who is targeted for persecution and it is systematic.”
His last spell in prison was when he spent 595 behind bars accused of inciting public violence following the murder of opposition activist Moreblessing Ali in Nyatsime, Chitungwiza.
He was later acquitted.
“They hate me more than Satan is hated by Christians; I don’t know why,” he said.
“I cannot forget the torture...l was beaten everywhere, including on my manhood.
“It is a miracle to be alive, if l had not gone to Europe to seek medical attention l might be dead by now or being sterile because of what they did.”
Police recently stopped him from holding his birthday celebrations.
The celebrations were supposed to take place at Chaminuka/Macheka square ground in St Mary's on October 30.
“I know they talk about me in the political sphere, they say Wiwa does not have a following and he is not a threat, but why did they not allow me to do my birthday celebrations,” he said.
“I am giving them sleepless nights.
“Whatever they do to try and intimidate me; it won't work, it is achieving the opposite of what they are thinking.
"Such tactics energise me and motivate me to fight for a better Zimbabwe where everyone is free and equal.”
