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Jabulani Sibanda strikes again
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
January 13, 2011

Notorious, self proclaimed war veterans' leader Sibanda has struck again, this time in the town of Triangle. Sibanda held a rally at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday 9 January 2011 where he allegedly threatened almost 2, 00 people who were forced to attend the rally with violence and death if they vote for the Movement for Democratic Change in next election.

The self proclaimed war veterans' leader likened his campaign to the biblical story of Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem after discovering that it was converted to a market for thieves. Sibanda claims he is on a mission to restore order in Zimbabwe

It is also alleged that Sibanda attacked the American government for imposing 'sanctions' on Zimbabwe and threatened to take over the Hippo Valley Estates under the guise of indegenisation. In December 2010, during a rally in Gutu, President Mugabe threatened the sugar estate with take over if it fails to indigenise its shareholding structure. Residents of Triangle who spoke to The Catalyst expressed displeasure at this sentiment as this estate employs close to 10 00 people who face possibilities of unemployment if the estate is seized. ZANU PF officials have already seized Mkwasine Estates in the area and allegedly run it to the ground by employing unqualified staff and misusing funds.

Sibanda is said to have concluded by likening the MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai to afly that flew into a bus (referring to the inclusive government) and is constantly pestering the driver (referring to President Robert Mugabe). He told the crowd that the fly will never drive the bus.

Sibanda's onslaught on the Masvingo province began last year during the outreach phase of the constitution making process under Operation Ngatibudirane Pachena (Lets be open) where he forced villagers in Zaka, Bikita and Chiredzi to declare which party they voted for in 2008 and relinquish their MDC memberships. Despite calls by civil society organizations for the inclusive government to deal decisively with the unruly 'war veterans ' leader', Sibanda continues on his menacing spree, with growing concerns that Sibanda's activities could result in an upsurge in cases of politically motivated violence across the country.

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