{{Short description|Zimbabwean politician (born 1972)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Job Sikhala''', nicknamed ''Wiwa'' (born 1972), is a Zimbabwean politician.
==Career==
Sikhala is the current chairman of the National Democratic Working Group, he has been the member of parliament for Zengeza West. He is formerly a member of parliament for the St Mary's constituency.
Sikhala was born in the former Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, in 1972. He graduated from Mazungunye High School in Bikita,<ref name="Gambakwe-1">{{Cite web|title=The True Life Story Of Job Sikhala |publisher=Gambakwe Media |date=8 October 2019 |url=https://gambakwe.com/2019/10/08/the-true-life-story-of-job-sikhala/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304020819/https://gambakwe.com/2019/10/08/the-true-life-story-of-job-sikhala/ |archive-date=4 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> and went on to the University of Zimbabwe, where he received a bachelor's degree in history and economic history and a law degree.<ref name="Gambakwe-1" /><ref name="BBC-2018">{{Cite news|title=Job Sikhala |date=13 June 2003 |newspaper=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/2982404.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030618080105/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/2982404.stm |archive-date=18 June 2003 |url-status=live}}</ref> At university, he was involved with student activism.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Matikinye |first=Ray |title=Sikhala says funding claims a hoax |date=13 October 2007 |newspaper=The Zimbabwe Independent |url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2007/10/19/sikhala-says-funding-claims-a-hoax/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304022637/https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2007/10/19/sikhala-says-funding-claims-a-hoax/ |archive-date=4 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1999, Sikhala joined the Movement for Democratic Change at its inception and was part of the national executive of the party. In the 2000 elections, he was elected to parliament from the St. Mary's constituency. In January 2003, he was tortured by government forces, which led to Zimbabwean cricketers Andy Flower and Henry Olonga wearing black armbands in protest during the 2003 Cricket World Cup co-hosted in Zimbabwe.<ref name="Cricket County">{{cite web|url= http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/icc-world-cup-2003-andy-flower-and-henry-olonga-don-black-armbands-246948|title= ICC World Cup 2003: Andy Flower and Henry Olonga don black armbands|publisher= Cricket County|date= 9 February 2015|access-date= 9 June 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150325204354/http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/icc-world-cup-2003-andy-flower-and-henry-olonga-don-black-armbands-246948|archive-date= 25 March 2015|url-status= live}}</ref> In the party schism of 2005, Sikhala followed Welshman Ncube and was part of the MDC–N. In 2014 Sikhala further split from the MDC-N to create the MDC 99 faction.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mudimu |first=Leslie |date=23 August 2017 |title=Tsvangirai's MDC has slowly evolved into a version of Zanu-PF |newspaper=Daily Maverick |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-08-23-op-ed-tsvangirais-mdc-has-slowly-evolved-into-a-version-of-zanu-pf/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107082351/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-08-23-op-ed-tsvangirais-mdc-has-slowly-evolved-into-a-version-of-zanu-pf/ |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> After the reunification of the MDC in 2018, Sikhala replaced Tendai Biti as Deputy National Chairman in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zimbabwe: Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), including political status, organizational structure, leadership, activities, relationship with other political parties, and membership cards; treatment of MDC members by authorities (2017-May 2019) |date=11 June 2019 |publisher=European Country of Origin Information Network of the Austrian Red Cross’ department ACCORD |url=https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2012397.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304032031/https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/2012397.html |archive-date=4 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2019, Sikhala was charged by the Zimbabwe government with treason.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Zimbabwe Opposition Official Charged With Treason, Lawyers Say |date=9 July 2019 |last1=Kumbuka |first1=Desmond |last2=Marawanyika |first2=Godfrey |newspaper=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-09/zimbabwe-opposition-official-charged-with-treason-lawyers-say |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709143724/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-09/zimbabwe-opposition-official-charged-with-treason-lawyers-say |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Zimbabwe opposition MP arrested on treason charges: lawyer |date=9 July 2019 |newspaper=The Citizen |location=Gauteng, South Africa |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/news-africa/2152571/zimbabwe-opposition-mp-arrested-on-treason-charges-lawyer/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709162145/https://citizen.co.za/news/news-africa/2152571/zimbabwe-opposition-mp-arrested-on-treason-charges-lawyer/ |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2020, he was cleared of those charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/africa/Zimbabwe-opposition-MP-cleared-of-treason-866287|title=Zimbabwe opposition MP cleared of treason|work=bbc.com|via=GhanaWeb|date=14 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Zimbabwe opposition MP cleared of treason |newspaper=BBC News |date=14 February 2020 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/crr7mlg0rpvt/zimbabwe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304014801/https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/crr7mlg0rpvt/zimbabwe |archive-date=4 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 30, 2024, Job Sikhala was sentenced to two years in prison, wholly suspended. He was released from custody to form a new political party called Zimbabwe Rainbow Coalition, which he is the founding President. Job Sikhala is accused by the authorities of inciting violence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 January 2024 |title=Zimbabwe: Job Sikhala, figure de l'opposition, est sorti de prison |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/en-bref/20240130-zimbabwe-job-sikhala-figure-de-l-opposition-va-sortir-de-prison-selon-son-avocat |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130160633/https://www.rfi.fr/fr/en-bref/20240130-zimbabwe-job-sikhala-figure-de-l-opposition-va-sortir-de-prison-selon-son-avocat |archive-date=30 January 2024 |access-date=17 February 2024 |website=Radio France Internationale |language=fr}}</ref> He was convicted for inciting violence on social media, but managed to evade jail time after being given a nine month suspended sentence and a $500 fine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.africanews.com/2024/02/16/zimbabwe-opposition-figure-sentenced-to-nine-months-in-prison//|title=Zimbabwe: Opposition figure sentenced to nine months In prison|publisher=AfricaNews|date=February 16, 2024|accessdate=May 30, 2024}}</ref>
On 30 August 2025, Sikhala's home in Chitungwiza, Harare Province was bombed by unknown assailants. Sikhala's children were home at the time, but survived without injury; Sikhala was in South Africa at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2025-08-30 |title=Job Sikhala’s Home Bombed In Midnight Attack |url=https://news.pindula.co.zw/2025/08/30/job-sikhalas-home-bombed-in-midnight-attack/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250902191340/https://news.pindula.co.zw/2025/08/30/job-sikhalas-home-bombed-in-midnight-attack/ |archive-date=2025-09-02 |access-date=2025-09-06 |work=Pindula News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nassah |first=Idriss |date=2025-09-02 |title=Home of Prominent Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Bombed |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/09/02/home-of-prominent-zimbabwe-opposition-leader-bombed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903223411/https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/09/02/home-of-prominent-zimbabwe-opposition-leader-bombed |archive-date=2025-09-03 |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}</ref>
==Notes and references== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Current members of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe}} {{Members of the 5th Parliament of Zimbabwe}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sikhala, Job}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe Category:People acquitted of treason Category:Zimbabwean democracy activists