RECALLED Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Binga legislator Prince Dubeko Sibanda has challenged the State to provide him with a trial date after his matter was postponed yesterday.
Sibanda appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa facing a charge of inciting public violence.
The former legislator, who was being represented by Alec Muchadehama, argued that the State should produce the cyber report rather than delaying the trial.
Muchadehama further submitted that the State promised his client that the cyber report would be ready by September 2 this year.
He said his client was applying for refusal of further remand regardless of the cyber report at the next court date.
It is the State’s case led by prosecutor Mercy Masamvi that between August 1 and 16 this year, Sibanda posted on CCC WhatsApp groups, his X (formerly Twitter) handle named Prince Dubeko Sibanda/@Dubeko Sibanda allegedly incited members of the political party to engage in violent activities, barricading roads and burning shops and tyres.
Masamvi said Sibanda allegedly posted that: “Unless the Sadc creates a platform where the heads of State will engage Zimbabweans on the SEOM [Sadc electoral observer mission] report and other issues, we will create a platform to meet with them on the streets of Harare.”
In the alleged post, Sibanda said: “No intimidation will stop us. Let’s shut down Hre [Harare] in August. Let’s barricade the streets in Harare. Let’s burn tyres and use old cars.”
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Masamvi further alleged that some of the messages were captured as screenshots by witnesses and were submitted to the police.
The court also heard that as a result of the incitement, CCC supporters allegedly barricaded High Glen Road with burning tyres near Mukonono River Bridge in Marimba.
According to State papers, Sibanda’s actions endangered the free movement of people and traffic along that road on August 16.
On August 17, a team of detectives from CID Beitbridge spotted Sibanda at Beitbridge Border Post and arrested him.
The matter was postponed to October 22 for routine remand.
