Former St Mary’s legislator Job Sikhala  who was arrested on Friday for launching his MDC99 party without informing the police is now facing additional charges of insulting President Robert Mugabe.

Sikhala is accused of breaching sections of the notorious Public Order and Security Act (Posa) and will spend this weekend in custody at Harare Central Police Station Law and Order section where new charges were preferred against him.

His lawyer Tawanda Chakabva of Hwenda and Associates said Sikhala, who had initially been released into his custody, was re-arrested yesterday on another charge which he was not at liberty to reveal.

“Mr Sikhala was released into my custody yesterday and we were told to report to Waterfalls police station,” said Chakabva. “However, when we went there the police took us to Harare Central Police Station’s Law and Order section where he is currently detained.”

He said Sikhala was arrested together with the party’s secretary for local government and national housing Taurai Magaya and Aaron Muzungu, the secretary for information and publicity.

Chakabva said the police searched Sikhala’s Chitungwiza home. In a statement, MDC99 said the officers said they were searching for weapons.

“The party wishes to inform you that armed police raided our president’s house in St Mary’s this morning around 1am. They said they were looking for arms of war kept there.”

Police spokesperson Oliver Mandipaka referred all questions to Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena who was not answering his mobile phone.

“Talk to Bvudzijena he is the one who was dealing with that particular matter,” said Mandipaka. “I don’t have any information.”

While launching his party earlier this month, Sikhala blasted the unity government for allegedly failing to improve the welfare of ordinary people. He said Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara were just lame duck politicians without any power in the coalition government

By The Standard