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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24818, member: 2262"] Job Sikhala, a well-known critic of the Zimbabwe government, faces fresh trouble. Police took him and 40 others into custody at a meeting in Mutare. The arrest adds to his long record of encounters with state forces. Sikhala leads the Movement for Democratic Change party. His work centers on pushing for better rights and honest rule in Zimbabwe. His strong words against those in power have made him a repeated target. Back in 2000, police put him behind bars for two years. Many say these charges came from his political stand, not real crimes. The prison kept him alone in a small room. This treatment, which experts call mind-breaking, aimed to crush his drive to speak up. His time alone in prison brought much pain. Yet he stayed firm in his fight for what he thought was right. He kept talking about wrong acts by leaders, even from his prison room. This new arrest fits a pattern. When people speak against the government in Zimbabwe, they often face police action. The state has not said why they took Sikhala and the others. Many think it shows how those in power want to keep others quiet. As a key person in the fight for change, Sikhala often clashes with ruling party plans. People who watch Zimbabwe say such arrests try to scare others from speaking up. This happens most near voting time or big political events. His past prison time left deep marks. Being alone in a small space hurts people's minds. It brings sad thoughts and fear. For two years, Sikhala lived this way. Yet the hard times did not stop his work for better rule in Zimbabwe. Through all this pain, he kept pushing for change. His strength touched many hearts. People across Zimbabwe saw him as proof that someone could stand up to power and not break. This latest trouble shows the hard road to free speech in Zimbabwe. Groups that watch over human rights ask for his freedom. They say the police must stop taking people who speak against the government. Many see Sikhala as brave. He stays strong even after years of hard times. His story tells of one man's push for fair rule and how much it can cost to stand up for what you think is right. [/QUOTE]

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