RECALLED Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Binga legislator Prince Dubeko Sibanda, who is facing a charge of inciting to commit public violence, was yesterday remanded in custody by Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.
Sibanda, who was being represented by Alec Muchadehama, will return to court on Friday for bail ruling after the parties agreed to file written submissions.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje alleged that from August 1 to 16, Sibanda posted on CCC WhatsApp groups, his X (formerly Twitter) handle named Prince Dubeko Sibanda/@Dubeko Sibanda inciting members of the political party to engage in violent activities by barricading roads and burning shops and tyres.
It is the State’s case that Sibanda posted that: “Unless the Sadc creates a platform where the heads of State will engage Zimbabweans on the SEOM [Sadc electoral observer mission] report and other issues, we will create a platform to meet with them on the streets of Harare.”
In the alleged post, Sibanda said: “No intimidation will stop us. Let’s shut down Hre [Harare] in August. Let’s barricade the streets in Harare. Let’s burn tyres and use old cars.”
Chirenje further alleged that some of the messages were captured as screenshots by witnesses and were submitted to the police.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa party defiant after ban
- Village Rhapsody: How Zimbabwe can improve governance
- News in depth: Partisan police force persecutes opposition, shields Zanu PF rogue elements
- Chamisa chilling death threat bishop defiant
The court heard that as a result of the incitement, High Glen Road was barricaded and tyres were burnt along the road near Mukonono River bridge in Marimba.
According to State papers, Sibanda’s actions endangered the free movement of people and traffic using that road on August 16.
On August 17, a team of detectives from CID Beitbridge spotted Sibanda at Beitbridge Border Post and arrested him.