HARARE: Zimbabwe police have arrested a former war veterans leader on charges of undermining the authority of long ruling President Robert Mugabe, state media reported yesterday.
According to The Herald newspaper, Jabulani Sibanda was arrested on Friday after accusing veteran leader Mugabe of plotting “a bedroom coup” for propping his wife Grace to take a top position in the ruling ZANU-PF while sidelining senior party officials.
“Ousted, renegade war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda was arrested in Bulawayo yesterday (Friday) and will be charged under section 33 of the constitution which criminalises undermining the authority of the president,” the paper said.
The paper said Sibanda also threatened to march to the State House, Mugabe’s official residency, to confront the 90-year-old veteran leader over his grievances.
Police could not immediately confirm the arrest.
Sibanda’s arrest is the latest clampdown on dissent since Grace Mugabe’s surprise nomination to lead ZANU-PF’s women’s league, amid speculation she could be aiming to take over from her husband when he steps down or dies.
AFP
