via Not even jail can stop me: Jabulani – DailyNews Live 13 July 2015
HARARE – Fearless former war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda said yesterday that he is not afraid of going to prison to defend his beliefs and constitutional rights against President Robert Mugabe’s government.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Sibanda said Zimbabweans owed it to themselves to remove Mugabe and Zanu PF from power as life was getting harder and rougher for ordinary citizens.
He also reiterated the clarion call that he made at Itai Dzamara’s prayer meeting at the weekend where he encouraged long-suffering Zimbabweans to launch what he called “Operation Kubvisa zvisina basa (Shona for getting rid of rubbish)”.
The outspoken Sibanda, who was arrested last November after opposing what he described as a “bedroom coup” as Mugabe’s wife Grace became increasingly more influential in Zanu PF, said at the Dzamara rally on Saturday that opposition leaders needed to work together to remove the nonagenarian and Zanu PF from power.
Sibanda was last year charged under Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which criminalises undermining the authority of the president — in connection with his bedroom coup jibe against Grace and Mugabe.
He was also one of the first high-profile casualties of the vicious purge of top officials in Zanu PF who were deemed to be too close to former Vice President Joice Mujuru. Mugabe also personally attacked him during a rally at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare late last year saying, “Jabulani speaks like he is possessed by the devil … I heard he wants to go to war against me. So with his war veterans he wants to fight me with my soldiers? I will have to see when he is planning it”.
Apart from being expelled from Zanu PF, Sibanda was also deposed as war veterans leader — decisions that were taken unilaterally without him facing disciplinary processes.
In his interview with the Daily News yesterday, he was emphatic that real democracy in Zimbabwe would have to come from the people themselves, which was why citizens needed to act against Zanu PF’s misrule.
“I am saying yes, sometimes there is a lot to be afraid of but sometimes it is better to take the risk now than to compel the next generation to move in the same problem. Yes, we can be arrested, but in our country you don’t need to be arrested because already circumstances are torturous to the people.
“If in your own party that was founded on the principles of democracy, principles of fighting for freedom, principles of armed struggle, you cannot be listened to, you are not even afforded a hearing at your own party, then that means you are not free to express your views in that party.
“And the same party is in government, the same people in your disciplinary committee are the same people running the judiciary in your own country, then don’t ask me whether I am afraid,” Sibanda charged, adding that people could remove Mugabe and Zanu PF from power constitutionally if they tried hard enough.
“We want kubvisa zvisina basa, to remove them constitutionally through elections. I was arrested before you were born. Mugabe was arrested but he kept on fighting for the liberation of Zimbabweans and I am sure he will protect those who are fighting for what he fought for.
“The system existing in our country does not represent the will of the people. The will of the people is very simple, give us the right to vote. You don’t find it in Zanu PF. Give us the right to debate, you don’t find it in Zanu PF.
“Give us the fruits of liberation and they are not there. The fruit of the liberation struggle is to be able to choose our leaders and it has been eaten by zvipfukuto (Weevils) in our party,” Sibanda said.
The tough-talking war veteran added, “As I know him, Mugabe will protect the rights of the people but if he prefers to listen to people that did not sacrifice for the generation to come and work with them against those who sacrificed for the country, that one we leave it to God”.
Turning to the ongoing war against vendors, Sibanda said the government should first provide employment for Zimbabweans before removing the traders from the streets.
He also bemoaned the fact that Zimbabwe had in its 35 years of self rule failed to advance itself technologically.
“I was in Harare and I saw a peanut butter-making machine that was created at the University of Zimbabwe. I don’t know how many professors we have got there but this is the age of technology. There are cars that automatically park themselves today. We have drones, pilot-less planes. This is the age of technology.
“But now what I saw from the UZ is equivalent to a shaduf (irrigation tool) which existed almost 4 000 years ago not in Europe or Asia but in North Africa — Egypt to be precise. So we are 3 000 years behind Egypt,” he said.
COMMENTS
So we are 3 000 years behind Egypt,” he said.
Say no more !!!!!!!
So, another Zanoid who has “seen the light” then?
Exactly, @kwv.
So, where was “the fearless (Jabulani) Sibanda” when his finger was still allowed into the pie..? Amazing how he had such a sudden epiphany about justice and such, huh. Disgusting.
(Someone should publish an article that contains some of his ridiculous comments and Mugabe boot-lickings from before he fell from ZANU-PF grace, to remind everyone where he really stands.)
same rhetoric…the very same guy who was heading the war events that pledged allegiance and would kill for Robert, now that they have been shown the cold side and no longer relevant try to get the sympathy of the people…that is rubbish, you are responsible Jabulani-face it
Sibanda was in on the deal to loot Zimbabwe and now is not in the Mafia anymore – so he sees now what the fruits of ZANU-PF have been without being inside.
What he says now he never said before – but then it might be that he changed when looking at things from outside where 99% of all Zimbabweans are and realizes their plight.
In the end all people that put Zimbabwe first and strive to get rid of the ruling Mafia should stand together – irrespective of their past and they may yet be successful. So let people like Sibanda into the struggle and let his past not be an impediment in the fight for freedom from oppression.
Sad to say, I think a revolution is the only solution. Even then one cannot be sure of the outcome because revolutionaries so often end up exactly the same as those they revolted against
Which is why of course that elections are so much better, and the choice of Civilised societies
Remember Nicolae Ceausescu was tried and convicted by his own lieutenants. Do not rubbish Jabulani. Yes he did a lot of harm but although he may be an opportunist people do have epiphanies and damascene moments. Their sacking from positions privilege could actually have created an availability of people who know the intricacies of the Zanu modus operandi and can be of great importance when required. Certainly people like Mujuru, Mutasa, Gumbo know how the system works and may or may not have solutions but they know. So do not discount them in this arduous path we have not been able to accomplish. They may just be the secret ingredient.
Still a terrorist I see, just wearing a different shirt. Rot in hell scumbag you helped to destroy Zimbabwe now its too late to cry over spilled milk
If the main goal of all who have commented is to see a free and democratic Zimbabwe, then what Jabulani has said deserves our attention. However, if we believe a Saint is going to lead us in our struggle, we have a long way to go. It is quite evident that most of us are quick to criticize instead of contributing intelligently to the debate. Jabulani will go into the annals of history as having been the first to call a spade a spade through his “bedroom coup” description of our present day politics.
Having said this, the issue he is raising about being technologically behind has been my major concern particularly when one watches the youth being used (even by Jabulani prior to his expulsion) to beat up villagers, evict white farmers and commit all sorts of criminal acts instead of being in the forefront of technological advances. There is a born-free generation which has known nothing other than hatred towards its compatriots for no good reason other than different political views. Maybe this is where the reformed Jabulani can be useful.
This Mliswa is a complete rubish
Whilst people are good at criticizing,I think Jabulani have a point. Its true he dinned with the gang, hoping some day things will change. Everyone came from this resume even the so called Tsvangirai, but it only needs this bravery that Jabulani have. Whilst Tsvangirai used ‘Chinja maitiro tactics’Jabulani used ‘No to bedroom coup, whilst Mai Mujuru wanted to use the persuasive tactics. All with the hope of changing the status quo. The problem is with my fellow Zimbabweans, who knows nothing but just criticizing others. We faced with a challenge ahead, the problem is how best can we over come this challenge. Criticizing is not the best solution but adding something would help.