PS: I became interested in politics in 2001 when I was doing a diploma in development studies. During that time, I contested and won the position of Secretary General of the Student Representative Council. From then onwards I began to enjoy the contestation of ideas which I can trace back to my high school days when I participated in school debates. Since the days of that diploma at Domboshawa Training Centre, I actively followed the political developments of this country but could not participate as I was a member of the ZRP.
TD: Why do you intend to leave Victoria Falls constituency for Binga?
PS: Binga is my home. The people have lost hope in the current MP Joel Gabuza, saying he has done a disservice to the community as he lacks vision. A pragmatic person like me could have more tangible results in a rural rather than urban constituency. So I think I could be a more effective. In addition, a fellow youth has chosen to stand in Victoria Falls and my principles do not allow me to fight my fellow youth.
TD: What are your plans to develop the area and improve the quality of life for the local people?
PS: Poverty is the key problem and what is required is to release the potential of the area in order to unlock the economic value that exists. One major way to achieve that is to tar the Binga-Gokwe road. This road reduces travelling costs and distance between Harare and Victoria Falls. Binga is a tourist attraction and a good road would promote business. This would also translate into employment creation. Tourism would also get a boost through hunting safaris that can be set up.
Binga also houses the Zambezi River – the major source of the fishing industry, that can contribute not only to the GDP but also create business and employment. Currently the market for fish is seriously compromised by the poor road network, especially to Mujele in Chunga where the major fishing operations are based.
I am also looking at ensuring that we get security of water for both human and animal consumption. Remember our people always say they were chased from the Zambezi to pave way for the construction of Kariba Dam with an undertaking that water would follow them. Most of our areas are dry despite being barely 20 km away from the Zambezi River -that is untenable. The government is planning to take water to Bulawayo and further areas, but locals also need it. While the current level of assistance by various stakeholders is welcome, I believe the best way to alleviate poverty in Binga is through employment creation through infrastructural development. We also need to improve the quality of education by upgrading the quality of schools. We need to attract investors by opening up opportunities.
TD: What challenges have you met as councillor in Vic Falls?
PS: The most frustrating was the lack of having a team player as leader. I strongly believed in team work, but a team can only be effective if it has a leader who is both a visionary and a team player. Unfortunately during our tenure we lacked that and as a result we are more of a bunch of people without a united vision of what they wanted to achieve collectively for the town.
TD: What do you think needs to be done to improve service delivery in Vic Falls?
PS: Before the next team starts, there is need to identify a visionary, team player and team builder as mayor. I strongly believe that Victoria Falls should have partnered with a number of towns and cities during our tenure. No sane city or town can refuse to partner with the host of one of the world’s seven wonders. Through such partnerships, the council could access resources from sister cities and ideas on how to build the town into a world class tourist city.
A visionary leader will help his team set up performance standards for the employees in order to produce the results. The current work culture at the town is not effective and has become so entrenched that there is some sense of entitlement and non – commitment. Some are downright lazy and nothing seems to happen to them.
Funding needs to be increased so that the town develops at a pace that keeps it abreast with its world class status. Funding should come from government, developing partners and some form of royalty from income obtained from the falls.
TD: What did you achieve as councillor?
PS: I organised funding for income generating projects for widows’ groups in order to empower them, and for income generating projects for several individuals. I personally assisted some underprivileged children to get funding for their education. While it was not my initiative, I vigorously fought for the coming in of electricity in one area of my ward that had been in darkness for over 10 years. I initiated the servicing for sewer in one area of my ward that had remained subserviced for over 10 years. I initiated meetings between business people and councillors in order deal with challenges faced by businesses and the community. As a result the level of corporate social responsibility in the ward is second to none. Public toilets have been constructed by business people as part of that initiative. I have encouraged adults to go back to school and improve their level of education. In this, I have led by example by going back to college to attain another degree qualification. I have also sent my wife. I have supported educational institutions in my ward in their various challenges.
Biography
Born in Chief Siabuwa’s area in Binga in 1972, Sibanda did primary education at Nagangala Primary school and secondary at Siabuwa Secondary School. After the death of his father he could not proceed to advanced level as his mother could not afford his fees. He joined the ZRP in January 1992. While in the police force, he did his ‘A’ level by correspondence. In 2000, he obtained a higher law diploma from the Police Staff College. In 2001, he obtained a diploma in development studies at Domboshawa Training Centre. In 2004, he resigned from the ZRP having attained the rank of Assistant Inspector and ventured into various businesses in Victoria Falls.
In 2005 he joined the MDC-T as district secretary, a position he held until appointed provincial secretary for welfare and logistics in 2007. In the 2008 elections he was elected councillor for Ward 11 after he lost primary elections to Patrick Sibanda for the House of Assembly seat for Binga. He is a final year student at the Midlands State University where he is studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree in Economics. Sibanda is married to Memory and father to three daughters and two sons.
Post published in: News