SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
24 June 2011
For nearly a year notorious war vets leader Jabulani Sibanda has been camped in the Masvingo province, rounding up and terrorizing civil servants, traditional leaders and villagers. His endless rallies and meetings disguised as history lessons, had one clear message, vote for ZANU PF or face violent retribution.
But his campaign dubbed, “Operation Kubudirana Pachena,” has backfired spectacularly, with Sibanda only succeeding in making ZANU PF even more unpopular. People from all walks of life in the province have been unanimous in condemning his activities. So worried are ZANU PF by this negative reaction, the Masvingo Province of the party resolved to expel him from the area.
Confirmation of this came from the state media of all places. They quoted the provincial executive as saying Sibanda was now “dabbling in political activities that were now compromising the party.” ZANU PF provincial chairman Lovemore Matuke, is quoted saying the party’s provincial co-coordinating committee had passed a resolution ordering the war vets leader stop his campaigns.
Matuke is adamant Sibanda has over-stayed his welcome in the province and suggested he should “stop all his activities and go to other provinces.” He went on to say; “We felt that he had overstayed in Masvingo judging by what he was doing and considering that he was in Masvingo since October last year and wanted to be here until August this year, it means that he wanted to spend a year here and ZANU PF has ten political provinces so it means that for him to cover all the other provinces he would need ten years, so we felt that it will be better if he goes to other provinces.”
A defiant Sibanda meanwhile is reported to have told the state owned Herald newspaper; “I have not been aware of that and am still not aware. Anyway who is Matuke? Who is he?” In another report Sibanda has vowed that he will not be removed by resolutions being passed by his perceived enemies.
“Leaving Masvingo, going where? Unless they kill me and put me in a coffin, I will not leave this beautiful province,” he is reported as saying.
Meantime Sibanda has instructed chiefs in the province to compile a list of all MDC-T supporters in Masvingo. He has issued threats that ZANU PF will deal with them at the appropriate time.
AllAfrica – All the Time