EMBATTLED former Zengeza West lawmaker Job Sikhala is due for a colonoscopy as recommended by a private doctor who went to check on him after days of passing stool with blood.
RUVIMBO MUCHENJE
His spokesperson, Freddy Masarirevhu, told The NewsHawks that Sikhala had been passing stool with blood for days. His condition worsened last week, prompting his family to engage a medical practitioner to assess the cause.
“He is certainly not 100%, he is not feeling well as was correctly reported last week. He was passing out blood for the past 10 days. The condition got worse on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we had to quickly engage medical practitioners so that he is medically examined. So he was medically examined, so the doctor observed that his blood pressure was extremely high and also that he needed some tests called colonoscopy, where they need to examine the cause of the blood. The test is yet to be conducted and we are hoping that in the next two days it’s going to be done. He is certainly not well,” said Masarirevhu.
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor uses a colonoscope or scope, to look inside the rectum and colon. The examination can reveal irritated or swollen tissue, ulcers, polyps, and cancer.
Masarirevhu was speaking outside the magistrates’ court where Sikhala was appearing for a ruling on his application for discharge at the end of the state case in which he is accused of incitement of violence ahead of the 31 July 2020 protest.
The matter was postponed to 19 October 2023.
In September 2022, Sikhala fell sick in prison amid poisoning fears, when he was reportedly vomiting and had a running stomach.
At some point, he had hypertension pills withdrawn.
He has spent close to 500 days in prison and the solidarity has died down.
Opposition CCC supporters have totally disappeared from the public gallery in court, party officials have not been consistently attending his court sessions, even the previously ever-present anti-riot officers have stopped coming for Sikhala’s court appearances.
As has been the case since 14 June 2023, Masarirevhu reiterated that despite the ill health, Sikhala is in high spirits.
“As usual, Honourable Sikhala would want everyone to know that he remains resolute. He remains strong. He is not moved by the persecution, although it is coming with costs like what you have observed. He has not been feeling well for quite some time, but he wants the general public to know that he remains resolute,” said Masarirevhu.
Meanwhile, during the address on the recall of the 15 CCC legislators, party leader Nelson Chamisa called for the release of all political prisoners, including Job Sikhala.
“We are asking for an immediate release of our comrades because we feel that they are not guilty. They must be brought back, particularly for Job Sikhala who is not feeling well,” said Chamisa.
