Jabulani Sibanda a fellow combatant, says Mphoko

Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday revealed that former war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda was once arrested in Angola for allegedly sodomising a fellow combatant during the country's liberation struggle.

Addressing a rally in Bulawayo's Cowdray Park suburb to drum up support for Zanu-PF's candidate for Luveve, Ntando Mlilo ahead of the June 10 parliamentary by-elections, VP Mphoko said Sibanda escaped prosecution because of the change of government at independence.

"JB (Jabulani Sibanda) while in Angola sodomised another comrade during the liberation struggle and he was arrested and detained there. He was supposed to be prosecuted but luckily for him on returning home Zimbabwe had just gained independence and that's how he escaped prosecution," said VP Mphoko.

Describing Sibanda as a small boy, VP Mphoko said the ousted war veterans' leader, was for 11 years, given a chance by the revolutionary party to lead, but blew it.

"That young man (Sibanda) was given a chance by Zanu-PF to prove his mettle for 11 years, but sadly he blew that chance. He's a blatant liar who is destroying people. JB, then a small boy from Tsholotsho, would follow freedom fighters wherever they held meetings with the masses," said VP Mphoko.

Sibanda was expelled from Zanu-PF late last year for undermining President Mugabe and threatening to mobilise war veterans, youths and women to march to State House to confront the President.

He has since been charged under Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which criminalises undermining the authority of the President.

In October last year, Sibanda declared that he would boycott the First Lady's popular "Meet the People" rallies held in all the country's 10 provinces.

He firmly sided with ousted former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who plotted to overthrow the President and also faces a string of corruption allegations.

VP Mphoko expressed disappointment at the departure of Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa from Zanu-PF, saying the former Zipra intelligence supremo had soiled his illustrious liberation history.

The VP said he and Dabengwa, among other veterans of the struggle, went through difficult times during the war.

He reiterated that during the Sipolilo operation at the height of the liberation struggle, he, Dabengwa, Joe Modise of the ANC and other fighters had to drink their own urine as they had run out of water.

"Dumiso didn't join Zipra, we formed it. I operated with him in Sipolilo. We drank our own urine in one of the operations when we had travelled for more than 60 kilometres to a place where there was no water. We opened our water bottles, shot into them and waited for the acids to evaporate. We then ate Russian chocolate and drank our own urine. Now I'm really disappointed with Dabengwa. I really don't know what got into him and there's no doubt that today he could have been the Vice-President," he said.

He urged youths to emulate their leaders and carry on with the legacy of the late Vice-Presidents Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Landa John Nkomo.

"Youths shouldn't undermine their leaders and they shouldn't despise them because we're grooming them so that they become good leaders and take over from us," said VP Mphoko.

He pledged to play a leading role in reviving Bulawayo's industry and create employment for the people.

"Give me a chance to lead you as your Vice-President so that we carry on with the legacy of the late Vice-Presidents Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Landa John Nkomo. We're trying to revive industries in Bulawayo so that our people get employed," he said.

Earlier on while addressing party supporters in Lobengula, VP Mphoko lashed at the Bulawayo City Council for disconnecting water to residents.

He said the government would take stern measures to address the problem. VP Mphoko also donated $1,400 to Vukani Women's Project in Lobengula to buy sewing machines to economically empower the beneficiaries.