Dr Enrico Sibanda dares to be different

When Dr Enrico Sibanda was convicted of a crime as a juvenile while still in high school and was sent to Hwawha Juvenile Prison, his hopes and aspirations of caring for his ageing grandmother were shattered. Little did he know that the incarceration, the experience and the individuals he met while serving time at Whawha would mould him to become an astute, determined and God-fearing social entrepreneur.

Dr Sibanda is the country representative of the Women's Heritage Society World Organization (WHSWO) in Zimbabwe and past president of the Philanthropy Institute of Zimbabwe. He is credited with recognising men and women who have served Zimbabwe in different capacities by awarding them philanthropic honours of varying nature.

He is also the chairman of the Zimbabwe Business Awards, the Zimbabwe Leadership Awards and Maverick Ministries International, an inter-denominational leadership organization that houses different strategic units under its wings.

"I am proud of what I am today," said Dr Sibanda in an interview.

"I attribute my success to hard work, ingenuity and to a past which changed me, made me a better person, while bringing people in my life who gave me a new lease of life.

"Yes, I was at one time arrested as juvenile, something I would not be proud of ordinarily, but I now make it public because of what came out of Whawha," he said.

Dr Sibanda says while many would have expected him to wallow in self-pity and deal with societal condemnation that former inmates have to deal with, he used the networks he made, the experience he went through and the opportunities he came across to create a vibrant philanthropic society.

And like the proverbial Saul, Dr Sibanda has not retraced his Damascus sojourn but has instead become an astute, hard working philanthropist and a social entrepreneur whose work is firmly grounded in Christian virtues.

He says he has strived to lead a clean life that now focuses on developing and expanding philanthropic work, an idea that was inspired by business mogul, Bill Gates' visit to Zimbabwe a few years ago.

"When he (Gates) came to visit, there was so much hype associated with the visit. I remember going to the net to google the word 'philanthropy', and I then realised that I also qualified to be a philanthropist.

"I had donated money to several institutions and had also raised money to advance the interest of humanity. Wasn't I a philanthropist? Yes I was one," he said.

"That alone inspired me to launch the Philanthropy Institute of Zimbabwe," he said.

With the launch of the Institute, Dr Sibanda realised that there were hundreds of men and women of diverse background who had done tremendous work in various sectors and communities and yet remained unheralded.

"I realised the importance of rewarding people for the work they do for their communities and the country at large. World over people are rewarded by their communities for their good work in different areas and we should not be an exception here," he said.

Rewarding people for their hard work, determination to change their communities and the world at large have become the benchmark of the organisation's philosophy.

To date, more than 2 500 influential individuals and organisations have received different types of accolades from Dr Sibanda's various entities that he leads, which include business, women, peace and humanitarian, media, information communication technology gospel and religious awards.

He has also conferred several individuals with doctorates in philanthropic work.

However, his decision has courted the ire of academics and the public in general who accuse Dr Sibanda of dishing out doctorate degree, thus reducing the value attached to advanced scholarship.

"The media has been on my case because of the issuance of the honorary doctorates of Humane Letters.

"Let me categorically state I never conferred any doctorates, I merely facilitated an event for the work of the International Institute of Philanthropy.

"More or less if you help organise a wedding, it does not mean it is your wedding. IIP is a legitimate entity, registered and has structures and systems and it merely facilitated an event for an international organisation.

"I don't even have to defend myself on that one because the former Minister of Higher Education (Dr Olivia Muchena) made it clear in Parliament that Government would not interfere because these were merely philanthropic honorary degrees," Dr Sibanda said.

He said despite the negative publicity that his honorary awards had received, the honoured individuals had expressed gratitude in finally getting recognition for their efforts, which society has largely ignored over the years.

"Yes, the media and some sections of society, academics included, naturally would want to tear me in pieces while trivialising all the effort I have done in recognising these men and women of valour.

"I am not bothered. The individuals and organisations honoured are elated and some even cry because they appreciate the value of the honour we bestow on them.

"Some could not even believe that they were finally getting recognition following decades of good work that had gone unheralded. So why shouldn't I continue doing something, a job that touches people's lives?"

Dr Sibanda, who has since been described by the media as controversial, a con-artist and an unrepentant ex-convict, said he was being persecuted for daring to be different and innovative.

"I am not controversial, I am maverick. There is a thin line between controversy and maverism," revealed Dr Sibanda

"There is a thin line between controversy and maverism, and you find that if Jesus Christ was living amongst us today, he would be the most so to speak, the most controversial person.

"Now Jesus Christ is the greatest maverick of all times and I am inspired by him to do what I do today.

"Jesus Christ did things society deemed could not be done, he dared the system. He was a non-conformist; Mavericks are people who do not want to be limited by systems, not in the sense of saying that you are breaking the law, but in what we call positive rule breaking," said Dr Sibanda who is also known as Apostle and Man of God.

He added that the barrage of criticism he gets from certain sections of society has over the years spurred him to continue improving on his brand, while looking at other opportunities.

Dr Sibanda, who was recently named among the Top 100 maverick leaders of the 21st century and the Top 100 maverick leaders of the decade under 40 in 2016, says the future looks bright.

"Next month we are launching the Women's Christian magazine, television and radio station, together with the inaugural Zimbabwe Gospel Music Awards, a first in Zimbabwe, while simultaneously celebrating the top 20 outstanding women in Ministry and Christian Leadership.

"Having been raised by my grandmother following the death of my mother when I was still very young, I have got so much respect for women, whom I believe are the future leaders globally.

"It is my wish to ensure that their aspirations and needs are catered for, hence the decision to set up these institutions," he enthused.

Dr Sibanda, an international speaker, runs an inter-denominational leadership ministry, Maverick Ministries International, MMI.