A GOVERNMENT-OWNED Zimbabwean weekly newspaper has accused popular radio legend Ezra "Tshisa" Sibanda for spying on behalf of the British intelligence service, MI6.

The Harare-based Sunday Mail which usually reflects Robert Mugabe’s thinking, claims that Sibanda’s recent announcement that he was entering into Zimbabwean politics under the MDC-T ticket was influenced by Britain’s spy agents, the MI6.

The newspaper wrote: “The MDC-T intends to field former radio 2 (now Radio Zimbabwe) disc jockey Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda as its candidate for the Mpopoma parliamentary seat in national elections scheduled for this year in a move reportedly engineered by British intelligence agents”.

The paper goes on to claim that an MI6 agent David Banks facilitated Sibanda’s joining of the MDC-T at national level.

The paper claims Sibanda is living in the United Kingdom as a refugee, yet he visited Zimbabwe during the festive season to “discuss his imminent relocation ahead of the election scheduled for sometime this year”.

Further, the newspaper accuses Sibanda for working for what they referred to as “pirate” radio station, SW Radio.

“….is positioning himself for a parliamentary seat in order in order to enhance his relationship with the former Rhodesian agents. Some of his friends to whom he may sell secrets include Conor Walsh, derrick Smail and Geoff Hill” the Sunday Mail claimed.

“Hill is a former CIO agent in the Smith regime who turned into a journalist but is known to have kept his links with the Western intelligence services. Small is a flamboyant MI6 agent masquerading as a media proprietor and has shares in The Daily News,” the newspaper claimed.

Contacted for comment, Sibanda said: “I am now being persecuted by a newspaper. Its an attempt to deny me my constitutional right, my birth right and my natural right. I am not aware of all the claims they are making against me. It’s unbelieveable that a properly trained journalist would produce such an atrocious story, let alone the editor would pass such a story for publication. It’s not even propaganda, it’s simply a blatant lie”.

The risk is that the allegations made by the Sunday Mail are treasonous by Zimbabwean standards and treason in Zimbabwe is punishable by hanging.

“They know that if Ezra stands for elections he will win without doubt. Then ZANU-PF has devised a way to frustrate Ezra and in fact, they could use the newspaper’s allegations just to throw him into prison without trial. Being accused of spying is a serious thing not only in Zimbabwe but the world over,” a commentator said.

By Special correspondent