Opposition politician Job Sikhala's home was bombed in the early hours of Saturday while he was in South Africa launching his autobiography, with unknown assailants throwing explosives at the property where his five children were sleeping.
The attack occurred at approximately 1 AM at Sikhala's residence in Chitungwiza, a dormitory town near Zimbabwe's capital Harare. Sikhala said only his children were present as his wife was attending a memorial service.
Police officers swiftly attended the scene, with homicide detectives and military bomb disposal teams deployed to the property, according to Sikhala's statement on social media platform X.
"This is cowardice and whoever did it will pay a dear price," Sikhala told Reuters from South Africa, where he was preparing to launch "Footprints in the Chains: The Life Story of Job Sikhala" later that day.
The bombing marks an escalation in violence against the opposition figure who has been arrested 68 times without conviction. Sikhala spent 595 days in pre-trial detention at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison before his release in January 2024.
Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi could not be reached for immediate comment. Sikhala said homicide detectives were waiting for military bomb disposal experts to remove unexploded devices from the scene.
The attack follows violent disruption of Sikhala's book launch in Masvingo on July 12, where suspected ZANU-PF youths stormed the venue, assaulting attendees and destroying property. Guest speaker Matthew Takaona, a journalist and media commissioner, was injured when attackers hurled a podium at him.
Esau Mutanho, identified as one of the alleged ringleaders in the Masvingo incident, faces a $150,000 lawsuit and criminal charges. Mutanho is contesting a Masvingo City Council seat in upcoming by-elections.
Sikhala currently chairs the National Democratic Working Group after leaving the Citizens Coalition for Change opposition party. Born in 1972, he was a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change in 1999.
The former Zengeza West member of parliament was detained in June 2022 on charges of inciting violence following protests over the murder of opposition activist Moreblessing Ali. Human rights groups including Amnesty International condemned his prolonged detention as politically motivated.
Zimbabwe has witnessed increasing political violence ahead of by-elections scheduled for later this year. Authorities arrested more than 160 opposition members and civil society activists between June and August ahead of a Southern African Development Community summit.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government denies targeting opposition figures, saying law enforcement agencies act independently. Opposition groups accuse the ruling ZANU-PF party of using violence to suppress dissent.
Sikhala called on "every normal Zimbabwean" to condemn what he termed a terrorist attack against his family. His children Job Junior, Ramaloka, Melody, Joshua and Fidel were unharmed in the bombing.
The book launch proceeded as scheduled in South Africa on Saturday afternoon despite the attack.
