BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Vongai Tome, the Citizens Coalition for Change’s national incident reporting and welfare desk officer, has confirmed that Prince Dubeko Sibanda, a former Binga North MP, is being held at Beitbridge police station.
Sibanda was arrested on Saturday and is expected to appear in court at the Rotten Row magistrates’ court in Harare on Monday morning.
According to Tome, Sibanda faces two charges: disorderly conduct and organizing public violence.
“He will be coming to Harare and tomorrow morning he is expected to appear in court at the Rotten Row magistrates Court,” Tome said.
“We understand that he is facing two charges of disorderly conduct and organizing public violence.”
However, the CCC has not yet seen the charge sheet.
Sibanda’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown on pro-democracy activists and opposition members, with at least 160 people detained, according to Amnesty International.
Lawyers representing the detainees have reported police brutality and psychological torture during arrests and detention.
Tome expressed concern over the increasing number of political violence cases against opposition supporters and human rights defenders, calling it “weaponization of the state to clamp down on opposition members.”
The CCC has demanded Sibanda’s release, condemning the regime’s ongoing persecution of innocent citizens.
The situation has escalated since June, with security officials attacking activists and opposition party members, accusing them of trying to disrupt the SADC summit.
In a separate incident, four masked men attempted to break into the offices of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on August 7, smashing a security camera and trying to force their way in.
Staff members have since avoided the office due to fear of persecution.