大象传媒

Zimbabwe opposition politician Job Sikhala has told the 大象传媒 he is 鈥榩repared to die for the causes that I believe in鈥�. Speaking to HARDtalk鈥檚 Stephen Sackur, Mr Sikhala said while the opposition in Zimbabwe faced many risks, 鈥榯here is no way we can be afraid of death when death is visited on so many people in the history of the struggle of the people of Zimbabwe.鈥�

Mr Sikhala is currently receiving medical treatment outside Zimbabwe having recently been released from prison after almost two years in detention. Asked if he was concerned about what might happen if he returns to his country, the lawyer and politician said, 鈥業 know the kind of regime that I am dealing with. And also the way they persecuted me when I was in prison.鈥�

鈥楤ut,鈥� he said, 鈥業 cannot relent at this hour. Because the people of our nation want their freedom, they want themselves to be able to exercise their democratic right, to choose the leaders of their own choice.鈥�

Zimbabwe鈥檚 elections last year saw the ruling Zanu-PF party retain power and President Emmerson Mnangagwa win a second term. Mr Sikhala believes the authorities kept him in prison in order to prevent him from standing for parliament.

Job Sikhala said he plans to return to Zimbabwe and embark on a year-long, nationwide consultation process to reconnect the opposition movement with the people of the country. Asked whether this was realistic, given the scale of repression, Mr Sikhala said: 鈥榃e will never retreat from asserting our rights as Zimbabweans. We are entitled, in terms of both domestic and international law, to engage in legitimate and constitutional political activity. There is no reason why we should be stopped.鈥�

The consultation process, Mr Sikhala said, was inspired by historical struggles. 鈥楨very successful fight against a repressive regime and any tyrant and dictatorship in the history of mankind, is that the masses were the carriers of the destiny of their own country.鈥�

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