Opinion / Columnist
Felix Magagela Mafa Sibanda's philanthropic works exposed
04 Apr 2018 at 08:19hrs | Views
It is often said that the good that man do lives after them and for sure Felix Magagela Mafa Sibanda's deeds have followed him since time immemorial. As teacher, a trade unionists, a human rights activists and as a political activist you could trace his life as a life of sacrifice for others' benefits.
Felix Magagela Mafa Sibanda qualified as a teacher with a diploma in education from the University of Zimbabwe. As a teacher he would always be there for the people in his communities. Felix would be called to read and write letters for members of the community even at odd hours. Mafa would assist the less previlaged children from these communities with school fees and extra lessons at no cost. These deeds made Sibanda a household name in the areas he taught.
As the president of ZITU (Zimbabwe Teachers Union). Felix organised the first resistance to Robert Mugabe's rule. During the strike a lot of people where arrested and victimized by Robert Mugabe's regime. Felix would assist those affected in every way possible. He was later arrested and discharged but did not stop fighting for the rights of the civil servants. He was later released from custody and reinstated into the Civil service. These exploits where observed by Joshua Nkomo and they became good friends. This led him to represent PF ZAPU in Glen View in 1985.
After losing his first son to the Gukurahundi scourge Felix became an outspoken activist fighting for the end to Gukurahundi atrocities. He became the founder of *The Post Independence Survivors Trust*. This was a pressure group fighting for social injustices in the independent Zimbabwe. It sought to find justice against the perpetrators and healing for the victims of the Gukurahundi scourge. This is Felix the man whose life has become the source of hope.
Felix Magagela Mafa Sibanda is a born politician. He started political activism at a tender age. His involvement in trade unionism and his fight for redress on the victims of Gukurahundi moulded him into a great politician. As a parliamentary candidate for Glenview under PF ZAPU he managed to help stop the mass murder of PF ZAPU supporters by hiding them at his Glenview house. When he learnt of the plot to burn his house he smuggled the people to safety and escaped with his own life to Bulawayo.
When the MDC was formed in 1999 Felix was at the forefront with his fellow trade unionists Morgan Richard Tsvangirai and Gibson Sibanda. He would help to nature many young people in this movement as it was composed mainly of youths from the universities the likes of Nelson Chamisa, Learn more Jongwe and Job Sikhala just to mention but a few.
Felix Magagela Mafa Sibanda has never faulted in his quest for a better Zimbabwe. Last week towards Easter he could be seen tying posters for the Alliance rally. This clearly shows how selfless is he and his devotion to the MDC.
It is my belief that Felix Mafa as an old horse who has been there from the beginning can have a place in bringing back the trust of the old to the new dispensation in the MDC.
henerimadiro@gmail.com
Henry Madiro writes these articles in his personal capacity as a Zimbabwean who want to acknowledge the good deeds done by fellow Zimbabweans
Felix Magagela Mafa Sibanda qualified as a teacher with a diploma in education from the University of Zimbabwe. As a teacher he would always be there for the people in his communities. Felix would be called to read and write letters for members of the community even at odd hours. Mafa would assist the less previlaged children from these communities with school fees and extra lessons at no cost. These deeds made Sibanda a household name in the areas he taught.
As the president of ZITU (Zimbabwe Teachers Union). Felix organised the first resistance to Robert Mugabe's rule. During the strike a lot of people where arrested and victimized by Robert Mugabe's regime. Felix would assist those affected in every way possible. He was later arrested and discharged but did not stop fighting for the rights of the civil servants. He was later released from custody and reinstated into the Civil service. These exploits where observed by Joshua Nkomo and they became good friends. This led him to represent PF ZAPU in Glen View in 1985.
After losing his first son to the Gukurahundi scourge Felix became an outspoken activist fighting for the end to Gukurahundi atrocities. He became the founder of *The Post Independence Survivors Trust*. This was a pressure group fighting for social injustices in the independent Zimbabwe. It sought to find justice against the perpetrators and healing for the victims of the Gukurahundi scourge. This is Felix the man whose life has become the source of hope.
When the MDC was formed in 1999 Felix was at the forefront with his fellow trade unionists Morgan Richard Tsvangirai and Gibson Sibanda. He would help to nature many young people in this movement as it was composed mainly of youths from the universities the likes of Nelson Chamisa, Learn more Jongwe and Job Sikhala just to mention but a few.
Felix Magagela Mafa Sibanda has never faulted in his quest for a better Zimbabwe. Last week towards Easter he could be seen tying posters for the Alliance rally. This clearly shows how selfless is he and his devotion to the MDC.
It is my belief that Felix Mafa as an old horse who has been there from the beginning can have a place in bringing back the trust of the old to the new dispensation in the MDC.
henerimadiro@gmail.com
Henry Madiro writes these articles in his personal capacity as a Zimbabwean who want to acknowledge the good deeds done by fellow Zimbabweans
Source - Henry Madiro
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