A popular opposition politician in Zimbabwe was convicted of obstruction of justice in a high-profile trial on Wednesday, a move that bars him from contesting upcoming elections.
In a case that critics said was politically motivated, Job Sikhala was found guilty by a Harare court almost a year after he was first arrested, and after spending more than 300 days behind bars pending the verdict.
“The state has proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt,” magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa told the court.
“The accused has no defence at all and is hereby found guilty and convicted of the offence”.
Sentencing was expected later on Wednesday.
Charges against Sikhala were based on a video in which he allegedly demanded justice for the murder of another opposition activist whose mutilated body was found in a well.
Prosecutors alleged that by blaming the ruling ZANU-PF party for the death he diverted investigations that were focusing on other suspects.
The charge is one of several facing the 50-year-old firebrand.
He is accused in other cases of inciting public violence over the same video and of publishing falsehoods. Judges are still to reach a verdict in those cases.
