FORMER Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association leader Jabulani Sibanda (56) yesterday spent his fourth night in custody after a Harare magistrate further remanded in custody to today. PHILLIP CHIDAVAENZI SENIOR REPORTER
Sibanda, who was arrested last week for allegedly insulting President Robert Mugabe while addressing a group of war veterans in Manicaland province on October 27 this year, was not asked to plead to the charge when he appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe.
His lawyer — former Attorney-General — Sobusa Gula Ndebele is expected to apply for bail.
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 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 Mujuru from her positions in the government and Zanu PF and replace her with Grace.
It was further alleged that Sibanda said he was not prepared for that because “power was not sexually transmitted”.
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Sibanda’s lawyer told the court that 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.
