He was based at Montrose studios in Bulawayo doing programmes for Radio 2 (now Radio Zimbabwe). Sibanda was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding radio personalities.
Gifted with a good voice, a requirement for radio, and a knack for selecting hit songs, Sibanda rode on the crest of stardom for many years.
Things however turned nasty in 2001 and he had to leave the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) in after 12 years of dedicated service.
Life & Style caught up with Tshisa who is now based in the United Kingdom when he returned home on a personal visit last week. He said that when he left the country in 2002, “nobody knew where he had gone to”.
Despite his popularity, Sibanda sometimes courted controversy as he was deemed to be anti-establishment. Adding to his woes, was the introduction of the opposition MDC party in year 2000 when his middle name “Tshisa” was associated with the then opposition party’s slogan.
“When Jonathan Moyo came as the Minister of Information and Publicity, things got to a head when he stopped all my programmes following one discussion parogramme I had moderated,” he said.
“Moyo said my programmes were becoming political. He closed down Montrose studios and said all staff should relocate to Harare. I refused to budge”.
Sibanda said he has always remained principled throughout his life.
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“I felt that closing down Montrose studios in 2001, was an affront to the people of Matabeleland. The programmes we were doing benefitted the people a lot. How then would they be able to access us in Harare?” he asked.
He used to present popular programmes such Ezemuli, Guga Mzimba, Ngisakhumbula and a discussion programme called Enkundleni.
He said the downside of his career was the closure of Montrose studios where he had worked for many years and built himself into a house hold name.He fondly remembers other star presenters of that time such as Nonceba Mnkandla, Eric Knight and Brenda Moyo.
Sibanda is however doing well in the United Kingdom.
He works for Voice of Africa Radio presenting programmes such as Africa Speaks and Doctor Love. He also works for Short Wave Radio and says the programme he does there requires that he phones home almost on a daily basis.
“I am up to date with what goes on in the country,” he said.
Together with his long time work mate and friend, Eric Knight, they have founded their own station called Visions FM. The station has opened up employment for 20 other young broadcasters.
Sibanda said he has plans to open a radio station in the country but Zimbabwe’s stringent media laws, rated among the worst in the world have put paid his efforts.
“I was in Harare for the past three days trying to secure a broadcasting licence but they told me that they have not yet liberalized the airwaves, which is an unfortunate situation,” he said.
Sibanda said by opening up a radio station locally, he aims to entertain the nation.
“We do not have any political agenda. We are Zimbabweans and hence we want to entertain our compatriots,” he said.
Sibanda said he had hoped that broadcasting licenses would be issued, following the opening up of media space to the private press.
He said he would however always come to the country to hold shows. His advice to upcoming broadcasters is that they should “not imitate anybody”.“Be yourself. You cannot go to school to be broadcaster. It is natural talent”.
When not in the studio, he likes watching football and he supports Arsenal Football Club.
