Chronicle Writer
VETERAN journalist and Sunday News Assistant Editor Mkhululi Sibanda has died.
He was 55.
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Sibanda died last night at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo following a short illness, his uncle, Mr Themba Ncube, confirmed in a brief interview.
“We are devastated and shocked, it was a very short illness. We had just left the hospital and less than an hour we were called back to learn than he had passed on. This is painful, he was such a fine gentleman and it’s a big loss to the family,” he said.
A respected journalist whose career spanned more than three decades, Sibanda began his journalism career with the former Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency (Ziana) before joining the Zimpapers stable, where he rose through the ranks from cub reporter to senior editor.
He joined Zimpapers in 2004 as Deputy News Editor before being promoted to News Editor. In 2013, he was appointed Assistant Editor at Sunday News, a position he held until his death.
His passing has sent shockwaves across the media fraternity, with colleagues remembering him as a dedicated journalist, mentor and editor who played an instrumental role in nurturing generations of reporters in Bulawayo and beyond.
Throughout his distinguished career, Sibanda earned widespread respect for his professionalism, sharp editorial judgment and unwavering commitment to journalism, qualities that made him one of the most admired media practitioners in the country.
Beyond the newsroom, Sibanda distinguished himself academically, earning a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Languages and Communication from Lupane State University.
He was widely respected for his keen interest in politics, governance and socio-economic affairs. His popular weekly column, Lest We Forget, became a platform for incisive political analysis and the preservation of Zimbabwe’s liberation history through interviews with former freedom fighters and other key historical figures.
The column earned him recognition among readers for its depth, historical perspective and contribution to documenting the nation’s liberation legacy.
Sibanda is survived by a daughter and two sons.
Funeral and burial arrangements will be announced in due course
