MDC-Alliance Member of Parliament for Binga North Prince Dubeko Sibanda was on Monday arraigned before the courts facing charges of inciting public violence.
According to the State, allegations against Sibanda are that on August 2 he distributed two face masks written #Zanu-PFmustgo to two employees from Pick’n’Pay Hyper in Bulawayo.
Sibanda (47) was not asked to plead to a charge of inciting public violence when he appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Tinashe Tashaya.
Magistrate Tashaya remanded Sibanda out of custody to September 17.
His lawyer, Nqobani Sithole of Ncube attorneys confirmed to the court that his client was fully aware of the charges leveled against him.
State representative, Nkathazo Dlodlo narrated to the court that Sibanda committed the offence on August 2 at Pick’n’Pay Hyper in Bulawayo.
“On August 2, at TM Pick n Pay Hyper, Bulawayo, accused went on to distribute two face masks to two Pick’n’Pay pay employees Marvelous Ndaba and Brian Maunze. The masks were printed the following words #ZANU-PF MUST GO meant to incite public violence and were recovered. The state may produce the recovered face masks as exhibits,” said Dlodlo.
The government has since made numerous arrests of people accused of inciting public violence linked to the July 31 protests.
Harare based investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume have been languishing in prison since their arrests last month over similar charges.
ZimLive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu is also being sought by the police for allegedly inciting public violence.
His nephew, Tawanda Muchehiwa was allegedly abducted and tortured by members of the State security after he was reportedly found in possession of fliers printed #Zanu-PFmustgo.
