Relief for Jabulani Sibanda

Embattled former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda, who was arrested last week and charged with allegedly insulting President Robert Mugabe, was yesterday released on $400 bail, but forbidden from setting foot at the ongoing Zanu-PF congress or organising a protest march to any State institution.

Harare provincial magistrate Vakayi Douglas Chikwekwe also gave Sibanda the greenlight to have his matter referred to the Supreme Court, saying the application was neither vexatious nor frivolous.

Sibanda is facing allegations of insulting President Robert Mugabe, which is criminalized by Section 33 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Chikwekwe ruled that the likelihood that he (Sibanda) will commit further offences would have been strong if the State had shown that the accused attempted to do so.

However, the State failed to substantiate this assertion.