Opposition CCC’s Dubeko Sibanda charged with inciting SADC summit violence

By Staff Reporter

HARARE: Lawyer and former opposition legislator Prince Dubeko Sibanda has appeared in court charged with inciting violence ahead of the just ended SADC summit.

The former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) member of parliament for Binga was remanded in custody to Friday for bail hearing.

Sibanda appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.

He was arrested by detectives at Beitbridge Border Post on Saturday while reportedly returning from South Africa.

Prosecutors claim that from August 1 to 16, Sibanda posted on social media messages inciting CCC members to engage in violent protests which would include barricading roads and burning tyres.

Court heard Dubeko posted the following:

“Unless the SADC creates a platform where the Heads of State will engage Zimbabweans on the SEOM report and other issues, we will create a platform to meet with them in the streets of Harare.

“No intimidation will stop us. Let us shut down Harare in August. Let us barricade the streets in Harare. Let us burn tyres and use old cars.”

Some of the messages were captured as screenshots by witnesses and submitted to the police.

At Harare Magistrates Court, we are with Hon. Prince Dubeko Sibanda for his initial remand proceedings after he was arrested in Beitbridge & charged with inciting public violence & transferred to Harare. pic.twitter.com/qvoKEWVyqA

— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) August 19, 2024