The People of Zimbabwe and the International Community: Be a Hero – Protect Tymon Sibanda’s Job and Home

TO BE DELIVERED TO: THE LEADERS AND DIPLOMATS ATTENDING THE 34TH SADC SUMMIT, VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE. AUGUST 2014.

During this time when Zimbabweans celebrate Heroes Day, we ask you to be a hero, take a minute, and vote to save this from happening to any more “Tymon Sibandas”.

Tymon Sibanda is an employee at Centenary farm, Figtree. He was born on this farm - and his father, Joseph Sibanda and grand-father, Jani Sibanda were buried on this farm. In 1977 Tymon was sentenced to 5 years in jail for feeding ZIPRA combatants on the farm whilst they planned and executed an operation to blow up the railway line between Bulawayo and Figtree. When asked in court, why he had not reported the presence of the insurgents he said – “I had obtained a guarantee from them, that if I fed and protected them, they would bring no harm to my employers”.

In 1983, during the 5th Brigade genocide, the 5th Brigade drove up to the dairy on Centenary Farm with a list of names. Tymon Sibanda’s name was on this list. They walked into the dairy and said to David Conolly – “We want Tymon Sibanda”.

An altercation took place during which a bayonet was held at David Conolly’s throat as the 5th Brigade became agitated. Tymon, realizing the seriousness of the situation, managed to escape through the back entrance of the dairy – he was never caught by the 5th Brigade. Had he been caught he would have been a mere number in the 5th Brigade genocide.

David Conolly owes his life to Tymon Sibanda and Tymon Sibanda owes his life to David Conolly.

On the 6th of August, 2014, Tymon Sibanda and his nephew, Clever Sibanda, along with other Cenetary farm employees, their wives and children, totalling 75 people, were evicted from their homes on Centenary farm under the instruction of Dr.R. C. Ndlukulha. Ndlukulha is a senior civil servant in the President’s Office. This took place in spite of a valid court order preventing these specific actions. Tymon , who is now completely homeless, has the following options;

- He can join the diaspora in South Africa or Botswana
- He could become a gold-panner, to the detriment of the environment
- He could join the list of un-employed and hope to be fed by the international community

You can read the full statement on the farm takeover here: http://www.swradioafrica.com/david-conolly-statement-on-farm-takeover/

Having had a full working life in food production and having added value to the Zimbabwean economy, this is a most distressing story. However, this is nothing new. This story has unfolded over the past 14 years 300 000 times. As a result, 2 million farm worker dependents have become destitute and many reliant on foreign aid. Whilst ZANU-PF won the election on the back of a manifesto that said, they would create 2 million jobs in the next 5 years under a ZIMASSET program, the reality on the ground is that Tymon’s story continues to happen on a daily basis and thousands of jobs have been destroyed since 31st July 2013. As a result of this madness Zimbabwe has failed to raise one cent towards Zimasset and has the lowest foreign direct investment in the SADC region.

On the 17th and 18th of August 2014 Zimbabwe will host the SADC Summit at which the same Dr. Ndhlukula is Chairman of the Steering Committee and President Robert Mugabe will take over as SADC Chairman. The Zimbabwe aim of the summit is the continued “Zanufication” of the SADC region. Whilst the rest of the World moves forward with foreign direct investment and empowerment of their people, Zimbabwe seems hell bent on taking SADC down the route they have followed over the last 15 years.

This is a petition to protect Tymon’s job and home, as well as the other 75 employees and families from Centenary Farm, and help stop the madness by beginning to add real value to the Zimbabwe Economy. It is essential for democracy and prosperity that we insist the Zimbabwe government lead well and respect the courts, respect property rights and respect the right for all races to be treated equally. If they don't, they are clearly not fit to lead SADC.

"WE THE UNDERSIGNED STRONGLY URGE THE SADC LEADERS TO CONDEMN LAWLESS, SELF-HELP EVICTIONS OF PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES, ESPECIALLY BY SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE 'INNER CIRCLE' LIKE DR. NDHLUKULA IN ZIMBABWE, AND WE ASK THAT HUMAN RIGHTS, THE RULE OF LAW AND PROPERTY RIGHTS BE REESTABLISHED IN ZIMBABWE – AS PER INTERNATIONAL LAW."

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:17