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Columbus Mabika–Herald Reporter

Parliament has joined Tsholotsho South Constituency and the nation at large in mourning MP and Zanu PF Central Committee member Cde Zenzo Sibanda, who died of Covid-19 complications last week at United Bulawayo Hospitals at the age of 50.

In a statement yesterday, Parliament said; “The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo Mudenda, the President of the Senate, Hon. Mabel Memory Chinomona, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Tsitsi Gezi; the Deputy President of the Senate, Hon Lt. General (Rtd) Michael Reuben Nyambuya, Members of Parliament, the clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy M. Chokuda, and staff of Parliament, join the Sibanda family and the people of Tsholothso South constituency in mourning the untimely death of Hon Zenzo Sibanda who passed on Wednesday 11 August 2021.

“An affable and unassuming gentleman with a ready smile, the late Hon Sibanda served with distinction in the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade particularly in unapologetically calling for the removal of the illegal economic sanctions against Zimbabwe. 

“ The Parliament of Zimbabwe has been robbed of a humble, diligent and dedicated patriot at a time when the Second Republic was beginning to make significant strides in the engagement and re-engagement drive. The electorate in his constituency will miss his innovative leadership in advancing the national development agenda. May his dear departed soul rest in eternal peace.”

Cde Sibanda did his education in Gwanda before working as a bakery attendant in Chegutu between 1987 and 1989. Between 1990 and 1992 he was employed as a security guard and that is the time he relocated to Tsholotsho where his aunt was staying.

Cde Sibanda was elected district youth chairman for Tsholotsho in 1996 and was secretary for production and labour between 1998 and 2000.

Between 2001 and 2005 he worked as ward development officer for Ward 17 in Tsholotsho in the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation.

He was elected as an executive member for the Zanu PF Youth League in Matabeleland North in 2003 before being elevated to the provincial secretary for administration.

Cde Sibanda was Zanu PF candidate for Tsholotsho South in the 2008 harmonised election which was won by the MDC, but he won the election in 2013 and retained the seat in the 2018 elections.

In 2012, he was elected Matabeleland North party provincial secretary for transport and welfare, a position he held until the time of his death.

He was elected into the Central Committee in 2014. Cde Sibanda is survived by his wife and 10 children.