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Arrest Jabulani Sibanda
Movement for Democratic Change
September 29, 2010

The MDC is strongly disturbed that Jabulani Sibanda, a self-styled war veteran, can cause so much suffering in Masvingo province during the past three months without any restraint from the police. It is common cause that Sibanda, with a team of 15 of Zimbabwe's most violent war veterans, is preaching hate, intimidating and dividing the people, inciting violence and disturbing peace by forcing people to attend his meetings in the province.

Today, Sibanda disrupted classes at Nhema Primary School when he ordered teachers and school children to his rally before proceeding to Fuve Business Centre in Zaka, Masvingo province, where he threatened hundreds of villagers with violence if they stayed away from his meetings in the area. What is further worrying is that this happened in full view of the police. Zanu PF is funding Sibanda in the party's mission to fight ordinary villagers and to interfere with their normal lives. It is not a secret that on 29 March 2008, the people of Zaka rejected Zanu PF in favour of the MDC. Zanu PF should come out clean and denounce him if it is not involved with Sibanda's machinations. Their silence means he is their functionary on a mission to prop up their electoral fortunes.

Zanu PF thinks it can intimidate them and stop the groundswell of opinion in favour of real change. Once Zimbabweans turn their back on a party that has discredited itself through bad governance, dictatorship and unbridled tyranny there will never change their minds. Sibanda can enjoy himself with his daily threats but by so doing he is driving people further away from politics of intimidation and dictatorship.

However, Zaka and the entire Masvingo province has moved together with the rest of Zimbabwe and made a clear statement that change is inevitable. Any new voices with contrary messages shall have no impact on the ground. He has been to Mashonaland central, Manicaland and now in Masvingo province. That the police have watched Sibanda get away with such a programme of intimidation and disruption beggars belief. The MDC calls on the inclusive government, Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri and his machinery to act on Sibanda as a matter of urgency.

The behaviour of Sibanda and other destructive elements drawn from the former ruling party poses a real threat to the health of the Inclusive Government and must stop forthwith.

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