THE two Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions closed ranks on Tuesday night to condemn President Robert Mugabe’s refusal to grant national hero status to the party’s founding leader Gibson Sibanda, who died on Monday night.

Mugabe took just hours to consider a written request for hero status on Tuesday before writing back to Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara – leader of a faction of the MDC – saying the former trade union leader would be accorded a “state assisted funeral”.

A state-assisted funeral means he will be buried wherever the family chooses with financial and material help from the state – which is different from ‘national hero’ status which comes with a burial at the National Heroes’ Acre shrine in Harare.

The decision made with no known consultation came as a surprise because Mugabe agreed in a meeting with his ruling coalition partners Mutambara and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on August 4 to appoint a cross-party committee to confer hero status – replacing the Zanu PF politburo.

That committee is yet to be formed, and it had been expected Mugabe would at least have talks with Tsvangirai and Mutambara before the decision was announced.

Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the Tsvangirai-led MDC said Mugabe’s Zanu PF party was “showing its true colours”.

“Cruelty is their oxygen, revenge their fuel and contempt their daily bread,” Chamisa said. “Any meaning of hero -- either a dictionary meaning or a political interpretation – would fit Sibanda. There is no debate at all.”

Priscilla Misihairabwi, the deputy secretary general of the Mutambara-led MDC said: “This may be a good time for Zanu PF to come out and tell the country that the tax payer has been funding what is essentially a misnamed Zanu PF honorary club and burial society.”

In his condolence message, Robert Mugabe said he learnt with grief and sadness of Mr Sibanda’s death.

"Better known for his role as veteran trade union leader, Mr Sibanda, alongside fellow trade unionists who include Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, decided to found and launch an opposition political party more than a decade ago.

"Always measured, humble and unassuming, he became a voice of temperance and maturity in tempestuous political times, a disposition which made him a natural candidate for championing the national healing and reconciliation programme launched under the inclusive Government.

"His contribution in developing that important programme shall be sorely and sadly missed by all of us. On behalf of the inclusive Government, my family and on my own behalf, I wish to express heartfelt condolences to the Sibanda family on this saddest loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace," he said.

The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said Mr Sibanda had been accorded a State-assisted funeral.

Vice President John Nkomo hailed Mr Sibanda for dedicating his life to the fight for the total emancipation of the downtrodden.

"His selfless and staunch commitment to the motherland is also codified in his illustrious career as a trade unionist.

"Honourable Sibanda was a man of principle, soft-spoken but profound, he could disagree without being disagreeable.

"In all his statements and actions pertaining to the political situation in his motherland he was guided by
spirit of constructive engagement and problem-solving.

"He shunned superfluous and effervescent posturing and always focused on the broader national interest and agenda.

"His personal sacrifice for the independence of Zimbabwe coupled with his numerous and multi-faceted contributions to the revolution of our political matrix in the post-independence era will forever remain etched in our collective psyche as a nation," he said.

VP Nkomo said Mr Sibanda’s enthusiastic and sober contribution to the formulation of a consensus-based approach to national healing and reconciliation would be missed.

"On a personal note, I have lost a friend, a brother, a compatriot who was ready to listen and would simultaneously proffer sound advice," he said.

Prof Mutambara added: "Mr Sibanda was a great unifier, a great leader who was humble and dedicated to the collective good of Zimbabwe.

"This is shown by the role he played in the liberation struggle where he was a leader in PF-Zapu and his imprisonment during the struggle and the work he did with the trade unions after independence.

"It is also shown with the work he did for the unified MDC before the split and in our party after the split."

Prof Mutambara said Mr Sibanda was also a major stabilising force as evidenced in his work in the Organ on National Healing, Integration and Reconciliation.

MDC secretary-general Prof Welshman Ncube said: "Gibson Sibanda was a fearless fighter for the downtrodden, the workers’ rights and human rights.

An MDC-T statement read: "His soft but wise quietude, his frankness and honesty were the running thread of his patriotic exactitude."

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Mr Wellington Chibebe said the nation had been robbed of a great leader.

"On behalf of Zimbabwean workers, the ZCTU sends its condolences to the Sibanda family . . . Your wise counsel will be greatly missed."

Mr Sibanda was born in Filabusi in 1944 and worked for the National Railways of Zimbabwe as a locomotive driver from 1965 to 1982.

He became president of the ZCTU’s Railway Association of Enginemen from 1982 to 1984.

In 1987, Mr Sibanda became president of the then Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railwaymen’s Union, a ZCTU affiliate.

In 1988, Mr Sibanda was elected ZCTU vice president subsequently leading the union from 1989 to 1999.

He also served in the International Labour Organisation.

Before independence, he was PF-Zapu’s secretary for welfare from 1976 to 1979.

Mr Sibanda was arrested and detained by the Rhodesian government for his political activities.

A holder of a Diploma in Industrial Labour Relations, Mr Sibanda was elected MDC vice president at its inaugural conference in 1999 and was elected MP for Nkulumane in 2000.

In 2005, he refused to side with a decision barring the party from participating in the Senate elections, a development that saw him join a breakaway group that became the current MDC.

When Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations formed the inclusive Government via the 2008 Global Political Agreement, Mr Sibanda was appointed to the Senate opening the way for his appointment as Minister of State for National Healing.

He stood for election for Senate president but lost to Cde Edna Madzongwe (Zanu-PF).

Mr Sibanda lost his ministerial post after failing to secure a parliamentary seat within the statutory three months of being appointed.

He was then appointed special advisor in the organ.

Mourners are gathered at Number 4 Harewood Road, Woodlands, Bulawayo.

Mr Sibanda is survived by five children and three grandchildren.

By Special correspondent