OUSTED Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) leader Jabulani Sibanda (56) was yesterday remanded in custody to today when he appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe facing allegations of insulting President Robert Mugabe.
PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI SENIOR REPORTER
Sibanda, who was arrested last week for allegedly undermining Mugabe while addressing a group of war veterans in Manicaland province on October 27 this year, was not asked to plead to the charge.
His lawyer Sobusa Gula-Ndebele is today expected to make a bail application.
Prosecutor Jonathan Murombedzi, who appeared together with Oliver Marwa, told the court that on October 27 2014 at Herbert Mine in Mutasa, Sibanda addressed an illegal gathering of war veterans at a disused mine shaft where remains of about 100 ex-fighters were set to be reburied.
Murombedzi said Sibanda addressed the gathering although the reburial exercise had been rescheduled to a later date by Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi.
The State alleges that in his lengthy speech, Sibanda claimed that Mugabe and First Lady Grace were hatching a “bedroom or boardroom coup” through which they wanted to remove Vice-President Joice Mujuru from her position.
The court heard that Sibanda claimed that Mugabe wanted to use the alleged coup to remove Vice-President Joice Mujuru from her positions in government and Zanu PF and replace her with his wife.
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It was further alleged Sibanda said he was not prepared for that because “power was not sexually transmitted”.
Sibanda’s lawyer told the court his client wanted the trial to be held in his home area, Bulawayo. But investigating officer Chief Superintendent Luckson Chikazhi raised objections, saying Sibanda had not raised such concerns during his arrest.
