HARARE – Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MP for Binga North Prince Dubeko-Sibanda will spend the entire week behind bars following his arrest by detectives on Saturday charged with violence incitement.
The politician was arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post accused of inciting the public to stage protests against the Zanu PF led government ahead of the SADC summit, just held 17-18 August.
Because of his actions, prosecutors allege, there were protests along Highglen Road in Harare where people burnt tyres and barricaded the road on Friday.
Sibanda appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa who remanded him in custody.
Bail ruling has been set for this coming Friday.
He is represented by prominent human rights lawyer, Alec Muchadehama while the state is represented by Anesu Chirenje.
Parties are expected to file their written submissions between this Monday and Thursday before bail ruling is handed down.
It is the state’s case that between August 1 and August 16, 2024, Sibanda posted on CCC WhatsApp groups and his X (Twitter) handle inciting opposition members to engage in violent activities by barricading roads and burning shops and tyres.
Chirenje said, “The accused posted that unless the SADC creates a platform where the head of states will engage Zimbabweans on the SEOM report and other issues, we will create a platform to meet with them on the streets of Harare.
“No intimidation will stop us. Let’s shut down Harare in August. Let’s barricade the streets in Harare.
“Let’s burn tyres and use old cars.”
Chirenje said some of the messages were captured as screenshots and these will be used against Sibanda.
It is alleged that as a result of his messages, Highglen road was barricaded and tyres were burnt along the road at Mukonono river bridge, Marimba thereby disrupting the free movement of persons and traffic using that road on 16 August 2024 at around 4:30AM.
Sibanda joins a growing list of opposition politicians and human rights defenders who have both been arrested and harassed as the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government pulls all the stops to stave off citizen protests against continued poll fraud, economic ruin and unbridled corruption by the elite.
