This is an account of the fiasco I witnessed in the Remand hearing of MDC Vice President Gibson Sibanda MP. Sibanda and another Reggie Moyo appeared before Provincial Magistrate Masimba charged under the Public Order Security Act (POSA). Prosecutor Mary Zimba-Dube allowed bail of $20 000 for Moyo but declined to allow bail for Sibanda. Both were alleged to have violated the Act by organising last weeks successful stay away. The hearing finally got underway at 3:40pm after a day of arguments back and forth.
Zimba-Dube said the State were opposing bail out of the suspicion that Sibanda had pending cases (a disputed point) and that he would interfere with other witnesses still at large. Sibanda was defended by Josaphat Tshuma, who argued that the arguments were baseless. Zimbwa-Dube then stated that the State could not present their argument for a denial of bail as the investigating officer was unavailable. This despite the fact that the officer was one of a team of four, the other men being present. During the hearing, (4:20 pm) a man walked in and judging by the comments he appeared to be the 'unavailable' officer, Ngwenya. A man who only seems to posses one suit and is well known enough to have appeared on the list of notorious officers which appeared in The Standard newspaper Sunday.
Many brave members of the public noticed him enter and whispered his name and gestured to each other. He came in and left with another of the investigating officers. He probably bowed his head to the magistrate upon entrance and exit. However when this was raised by the lawyers and an officer went into the corridor to call his name - no response was forthcoming.
Masimba then decided to adjourn the hearing to Wednesday 2nd April at
8:30 am, punishing the Sibanda with a further night in custody. Worse still it is believed that Sibanda was removed to Khami Prison some 30 km outside Bulawayo. Remand cases are normally held in central or suburban stations. His wife has been denied access to him tonight.