Ex-war vets leader Sibanda further remanded

By Tarisai Machakaire

HARARE – Former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda, who is being charged with insulting President Robert Mugabe by claiming the veteran leader planned to remove his deputy and replace her with his wife has been further remanded pending the hearing of his appeal in the Constitutional Court (Con-Court).

Harare magistrate Francis Mapfumo further remanded Sibanda until December 15, and said the court had to wait for the Con-Court’s determination before proceeding with the matter.

Sibanda made his first court appearance in February last year ahead of Zanu PF’s congress.

He was subsequently barred from going to the congress, mobilise anyone to march to any State institutions, ordered to reside at 6337 Nkulumane, Bulawayo and surrender his passport as part of bail conditions.

Sibanda challenged the allegations of “insulting or undermining the authority of the president” by filing a Con-Court application, arguing the charge violates his constitutional right to freedom of expression.

“The charge by the State has the effect of infringing on the rights and freedom of the accused, which rights have been deemed fundamental by the Constitution,” he said, through his lawyer.

“Every person has the right, at law, to seek, receive and communicate ideas and other information.”

According to the charge sheet, Sibanda allegedly told a war veterans’ meeting on October 27 at Hebert Mine in Mutasa that Mugabe and his wife Grace were plotting a “bedroom coup” to remove under-fire former vice president Joice Mujuru from office.

Sibanda is alleged to have said “power was not sexually transmitted”, according to the charge sheet.

Grace Mugabe won a surprise nomination in August to lead the Zanu PF women’s league and fuelled speculation by asking why she should not be president one day. Daily News