THE very brave and proud Burkinabe people of Africa have a wise saying that “the unfortunate idiot who tried to spit at the sky; only achieved to soil his own sorry face and the sky remained blue.”
How sad it is that in these days of our mournful lives we continue to see the unwise and unfortunate peering into the blue skies, trying to throw their spit at them, only for their disgusting saliva to return and besmirch their own foolish faces?
President Robert Mugabe’s refusal to grant the late Gibson Jama Sibanda fitting national hero status is not an insult to Sibanda or his society of friends and followers, nor is it any denial of the iconic politician’s contribution to the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe. It is a candid and poignant comment on Mugabe’s own unfortunate being -- unbalanced personality, uninspiring leadership and very bad spirit. It is comparable to the proverbial attempt of the sorry imbecile to defame and humiliate the sky by spitting at it.
Sibanda remains blue like the proud sky and dear to our bleeding and mournful hearts, he is our hero and our humble father. But what of Mugabe, who is like the proverbial log which remained in the river for years but never became a crocodile, although from a distance it looks like one? He can be at State House and be called ‘His Excellency the President’ but still so much not our hero or our dear leader.
There is no possible exaggeration of the sad truth that in the death of Gibby, as he was affectionately referred to by MDC youths, destiny has stabbed us in the wound. The heroic leadership and wise guidance to MDC youths and indeed to all who love democracy that Sibanda was giving and respected for, remains a painfully unfinished assignment.
In Jama Sibanda, we have lost a solid merchant of peace and a leader of robust principles and clear vision. This is a man who summered and wintered in the Zimbabwean struggle against colonialism and the democratisation of post-colonial Zimbabwe. They only insult themselves and describe their mean spirit those, like Mugabe, who attempt to cast doubt on the monumental heroism of the man.
A true convict of the cause of freedom and a liberator has been lost. As we bleed at heart and weep out our pains, we only cry for ourselves at our loss, the warrior himself has rested and may his soul indeed rest in peace to eternity.
It shouldn’t matter where Jama Sibanda’s remains are interred -- it can be on anthill, it can be on a mountain, on a plain surface or in a river – but that spot where he is buried is now a monument and a shrine.
Mugabe stands to harvest shame and lose the little residues of respect that a pathetically few number of Zimbabweans still hold for him. He has squandered a golden opportunity to reach out to the many hearts and minds of Zimbabweans that appreciate so much the legacy and life works of the great Gibson Jama Sibanda.
To you Baba uSibanda, I can only say:
- Bayeke benjalo Godlwayo omnyama
- Lala ngokuthula Mahlab’ayithwale
- Wena owatshaya inja waveza umphini
- Besamangele ukuthi uwuvezile umphini
- Waphinda wayitshaya njalo bebhekile
- Thole elimnyama lakoGODLWAYO
- Nkunzi ensundu eyabekwa ematholeni lasenkabini
- Maphakamisa izintaba ngolimi
- Maphosa induku ngendebe zomlomo
- Nkisela enkulu ngokubizwa hatshi,
- Ngokuzibiza wena
- Ithe ekuseni yakhasa lezingane
- Kwathi emini yakhasabula lamabutho
- Ntambama yahlaziya izindaba lamakhehla
- Ntambama yaxakulula izinkinga lamakhosi
- Ngitsho kuwe Jama KaSibanda
- Wena silo esingawaswelanga amabala
- Wena obelezibongo zambili zantathu ngobuqhawe
- Abanye belesisodwana ngobugwala lobuvila
- Wena obemasendemane ebunzimeni belizwe
- Abanye bemaqanjana nje okubili ngovalo
- Wena Ngalabezi emnyama yakwa Godlwayo
- Yathi imfitshane yakhombela abadala ngesitho
- Abangaziyo bathi ixhwalile iyadelela ingane
- Abaziyo bathi ilesibindi, liqhawe
- Wena obona imfihlo zezwe uhlezi
- abanengi abehluleke ukuzibona
- bekhwele ezihlahleni
- Ngitsho kuwe Godlwayo omnyama
- Uthe ukhilikithela nje izithutha zathi uwile
- Wathi uphakama wamude kulaboyise
- Ngitsho kuwe mamba yezihotsha engelabizo
- Ngitsho kuwe silosamahlathi esingesabiyo
- Ngitsho kuwe ngqungqulu ensundu ephikisane lamafu
- Yabuya yehla yabhejelana lamaphimphi lamabululu
- Uthe ungena phansi komhlaba bathi ufile
- Kanti ugijimela ukuyabika ubuntandane besizwe
- KuMzilikazi
- Kanti ugijimela ukuyabika inyembezi zesiwe
- KuNkulumane
- Kanti ugijimela ukuyabika amanxeba
- KaMthwakazi KuLobhengula
- Ngubani ongangawe Gibson Jama Sibanda?
- Lala ngokuthula Nsikabayitshiye!
I remember, David Coltart, one of Gibson Sibanda’s close friends and colleagues, describing him as a “humble man who still drives the same car that he drove when the MDC was formed”. Indeed this was a humble man of exemplary leadership qualities that the youth can emulate without hesitation.
My heart bleeds for Sibanda’s family and the entire MDC family. There is no doubt bafowethu that one day we will stand on the shoulders of this titanic hero and pronounce victory over tyranny and sing freedom from our oppressors and exploiters.
Let the example of the life of Gibson Sibanda fire us into courage and dedication. Those who have attempted to insult him are like the fools that still dream of spitting at the sky.