News / National
'Noisy' ex-war veteran boss refuses to 'shut up'
19 Nov 2014 at 08:14hrs | Views
OUSTED war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda said he has not been silenced following his expulsion from Zanu-PF, saying he will soon respond to a raft of charges levelled against him.
Sibanda, who indicated that he would be focusing his energies on farming activities after his expulsion, yesterday said his expulsion would not silence him.
The combative Sibanda had initially said he would be releasing a statement soon after his expulsion, but he is yet to do so. Yesterday he told a local daily that he would talk after the cropping season.
"I have not been silenced, I will talk," he said.
"I will be responding to everything after the cropping season."
Sibanda refused to say whether he would appeal his expulsion.
He was expelled from Zanu PF and the war veterans' association on charges of disrespecting President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace. Mugabe also accused Sibanda of being sent by Satan.
Foreign Affairs deputy minister Christopher Mutsvangwa replaced Sibanda as the war veterans' association's leader.
Sibanda was fired from Zanu PF in 2004 in the aftermath of the ill-fated Dinyane meeting in Tsholotsho, but bounced back playing a leading role in party functions and activities.
He led the "million-man march" in 2007 to silence dissenting lieutenants in Zanu PF that were pushing for Mugabe to step down and pave way for a new leader.
At the time, Sibanda said he was brought back into the party by Mugabe and was doing a national duty in campaigning for him.
Sibanda and a group of Zanu PF provincial chairpersons have been booted out, allegedly for trying to frustrate Grace's entry into politics.
The move is seen as a purge by a faction linked to Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, which has received crucial support from Mugabe's wife, who has openly called on Vice-President Joice Mujuru to resign.
Sibanda, who indicated that he would be focusing his energies on farming activities after his expulsion, yesterday said his expulsion would not silence him.
The combative Sibanda had initially said he would be releasing a statement soon after his expulsion, but he is yet to do so. Yesterday he told a local daily that he would talk after the cropping season.
"I have not been silenced, I will talk," he said.
"I will be responding to everything after the cropping season."
Sibanda refused to say whether he would appeal his expulsion.
He was expelled from Zanu PF and the war veterans' association on charges of disrespecting President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace. Mugabe also accused Sibanda of being sent by Satan.
Foreign Affairs deputy minister Christopher Mutsvangwa replaced Sibanda as the war veterans' association's leader.
Sibanda was fired from Zanu PF in 2004 in the aftermath of the ill-fated Dinyane meeting in Tsholotsho, but bounced back playing a leading role in party functions and activities.
He led the "million-man march" in 2007 to silence dissenting lieutenants in Zanu PF that were pushing for Mugabe to step down and pave way for a new leader.
At the time, Sibanda said he was brought back into the party by Mugabe and was doing a national duty in campaigning for him.
Sibanda and a group of Zanu PF provincial chairpersons have been booted out, allegedly for trying to frustrate Grace's entry into politics.
The move is seen as a purge by a faction linked to Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, which has received crucial support from Mugabe's wife, who has openly called on Vice-President Joice Mujuru to resign.
Source - Southern Eye
