Clemence Manyukwe, Political Editor
WAR veterans leader, Jabulani Sibanda, has defied a directive by ZANU-PF Masvingo provincial leadership to stop addressing meetings in the area in the face of allegations that he is spearheading violence ahead of the next polls. Sibanda was barred from addressing further meetings by the ZANU-PF provincial leadership following an arson incident that at one time resulted in Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) members boycotting the constitutional outreach exercise being spearheaded by the Constitution Parliamentary Select Committee for a day demanding the halting of the war veteran’s meetings.
Although Sibanda was suspended from ZANU-PF in 2004 for being one of the chief architects behind the ill-fated Tsholotsho Declaration, which was basically an attempt to influence the composition of the party’s presidium, he has remained one of the workhorses drumming up support for the party.
On Tuesday, the MDC-T provincial chairperson, Wilstaf Sitemere, said while Sibanda had temporarily pulled out of the fractious province after being ordered not to address meetings by ZANU-PF leaders in the area, the war veteran had since bounced back.
“I personally met Sibanda at Nyika (Growth Point) and I said you are back and he said I am here to preach the gospel of peace. Of course ZANU-PF says in public it does not want violence but they do something else,” said Sitemere.
The MDC-T has complained to the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) that the former freedom fighter’s inflammatory statements had resulted in the torching of the house of one of its members, David Hallman on August 6.
It also alleged that Sibanda was using his meetings in the province to attack its leader, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, his deputy in the inclusive government — Arthur Mutambara — as well as the leaders of Mavambo/Dawn/Kusile and ZAPU — Simba Makoni and Dumiso Dabengwa respectively.
In a written eyewitness account of Sibanda’s activities by the MDC-T’s lawmaker for Bikita West, Heya Shoko, the legislator said after receiving numerous complaints on the war veterans leader’s activities in Bikita he decided to attend one of his meetings.
The lawmaker went to one gathering that was also attended by chiefs and headmen in the company of Jani Varandeni (Bikita South) and MDC-T councilor Athanasia Kunaka. Sibanda is said to have not known about the presence of MDC-T members, only to realise that they were present after he had finished his address.
Last week, JOMIC said it would summon Sibanda to answer to the violence allegations, but no date has been set.
ZANU-PF is also accusing MDC-T members of parliament in the province Shoko, Ernest Mudavanhu (Zaka North), Moses Mare (Chiredzi West), Marava, Chitando, Varandeni and Tongai Matutu (Masvingo Urban), of organising revenge missions.
It says some of the MDC-T officials had threatened to drive their vehicles over ZANU-PF members at a party gathering. The MDC-T MPs have since been quizzed by JOMIC on the issue and denied taking part in the violence.
Comments (2)
Show/Hide comments
Write comment
Show/Hide comment form