By Staff Reporter

ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters (EFF) commander Julius Malema has called out government over the sentencing and conviction of opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume, asking Zimbabweans to protect their own.

Ngarivhume was sentenced to four years imprisonment on charges of inciting public violence after convening anti-government nationwide protests in July 2020.

He will however serve three years after the court set aside one year on condition of good behaviour.

Posting on Twitter, Malema said described his sentencing as a ‘pathetic’ move by the Zimbabwean government.

“I was shocked to hear that a Zimbabwean government has jailed Jacob Ngarivhume, for demanding accountability through picket lines on how Covid-19 funds were used in 2020 by kleptocratic politicians.

“Sending an activist to four years imprisonment for simply holding different political views is pathetic.

 “Zimbabweans must learn to protect their own, particularly those who are the voice of the voiceless against the corrupt few. The truth will never be incarcerated; Africa we are one,” Malema said.

I was shocked to hear that a Zimbabwean Government has jailed Jacob Ngarivhume @NgarivhumeJacob, for demanding accountability through picket lines on how Covid-19 funds were used in 2020 by kleptocratic politicians.

Sending an activist to 4 years imprisonment for simply holding…

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) May 2, 2023

Ngarivhume was set to contest in the upcoming general elections.

Ngarivhume was arrested in 2020 with co-accused main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Job Sikhala, who has spent close to a year  in pretrial detention at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.