Diasporans mourn Sibanda

General Zimbabweans, members of the Movement for the Democratic Change Mutambara (MDC-M), Movement for the Democratic Change Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Zapu and church members attended the memorial service of the late Sibanda on Thursday evening. Speaker after speaker spoke highly about Gibson Jama Sibandas political maturity and quest for freedom of the workers and the people of Zimbabwe. Ngqabutho Dube the Secretary for Administration of the MDC-M says, Sibanda departed at the crucial stage of the Government of National Unity and the constitutional making process. He is a hero. Heroes at the National Heroes Acre are not heroes but Zanu P.F heroes and those connected to them. You have to be a Zanu P.F member to be a hero in Zimbabwe. We have to redefine who a hero is. The current heroes acre is an abuse of the tax payers money to create a heroes acre for Zanu P.F.

Mr. Dube says the late Gibson Sibanda was carrying some military hardware as a train driver during the 1970s and was arrested and sentenced to 3 years in jail. Mr. Dube argues that Sibandas contribution in the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) in the fight for the workers rights makes him a hero. He says his founding of the MDC and continuous fight for the total liberation of the people of Zimbabwe and reconciling them makes Mr. Sibanda a national hero. He described the late Sibanda as a down to earth person who was not greed and had the interest of Zimbabwe at heart.

The Information and Publicity Officer of the MDC-T Bongani Mathe described Gibson Sibanda as a hero better than most so called heroes at the national shrine. Bongani says, Sibanda made most of the MDC youth to be what we are. It is unfortunate that he passed on before we reached Canaan. I am calling upon people from different parties to follow Sibandas footsteps. He was a respectful, dignified and fatherly figure

Phuta Tseki an official of the Congress of the South African Trade Unions (COSATU) described Sibanda as a champion of the workers rights. Mr. Tseki says, Gibson reflects what Cosatu stands for. The loss of Gibson as a unionist is also a loss to South Africa. He fought for the rights of the workers in Zimbabwe. Its shocking that today thousands have fled the country. People like Gibson stood up to fight that till death. The suffering, poverty and challenges are also an injury to South Africa. Long live the spirit of Gibson Sibanda He called on the gathering to follow Sibandas legacy, spirit and principles. Describing him as a person who stood for human solidarity, Mr. Tseki says people should pick up the spear and continue to walk in Sibandas way.

The Movement for the Democratic Change Veterans Activist Association (MDCVAA) says Gibson filled in the shoes of Dr Joshua Nkomo when he died. Solomon Chikowero, the MDCVAA chair person says, Gibson Sibanda was a unifier of the people of Zimbabwe. He did not see a Shona or Ndebele but Zimbabweans. He was slow and soft speaking and willing to listen. He was a person we hoped in future when both MDC-T and MDC-M re-unite and rule the country would listen to our grievances and assist us. His death is a blow to Zimbabwe as a whole. He was a person whom we expected to build the values and the dignity of the country

Munjodzi Mutandiri a human rights activist and a member of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) says the loss of Zimbabwe will cost Zimbabwe immensely. He says Sibanda believed in the constitution by the people for the people. He states that he played a crucial role in the drafting of the first NCA draft of the constitution. He says Sibanda was a selfless person who was working for the betterment of the people. Gibson Sibanda succumbed to cancer on Tuesday at Mater Dei Hospitalin Bulawayo after suffering from it for some time. He was the Minister of National Healing and deputy President of the MDC-M. He was a member of the senate and a former Member of Parliament for Nkulumane.