BULAWAYO – Virginia Sibanda, the widow of the late legendary Zimbabwe national team and Highlanders midfielder, Rahman Gumbo, has died.
Reports suggest Sibanda passed away in the early hours of Sunday at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) in Bulawayo after suffering a long battle with cancer.
Her husband died in November 2023 after he reportedly collapsed and later died from a suspected heart attack in Botswana.
Recently, it was reported Sibanda was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
She appealed for but to no avail.
Sibanda urgently needed US$14,000 for a life saving operation with Netizens calling on flamboyant yet controversial tenderprenuer Wicknell Chivayo to step in and assist financially.
Netizens took to social media to appeal to Chivayo, known for ‘generously’ splashing thousands of money buying celebrities and public figures using luxury cars and proving financial donations to some.
Sibanda’s death could be linked to a dire and grappling health situation that Zimbabwe is currently facing.
The unwanted situation even forced the Youth Empowerment Minister Tino Machakaire to publicly express his deep concern over the state of Zimbabwe’s public healthcare system.
Machakaire took to social media to plead with President Emmerson Mnangagwa to visit public health institutions to gain firsthand understanding of the situation.
The former deputy minister of sports indirectly accused Mnangagwa’s administration of overlooking “important realities on the ground”.
“I visited one of our public health institutions this morning to see a relative and left deeply concerned by the conditions I witnessed. What I saw was deeply moving—a clear indication that many of our people are facing serious challenges.
“The growing public outcry over our healthcare system is not an exaggeration; it reflects the difficult experiences of many citizens,” he stated.
“As your appointee and one whom you have tasked to speak for the young people of our great nation, I feel a solemn responsibility to speak openly: sometimes, in our desire to present progress, we may unintentionally overlook important realities on the ground.”
He added: “Your Excellency, you have earned the admiration of this nation for your compassion, humility and tireless dedication to the welfare of ordinary citizens. Under your leadership, many have found renewed hope.
“It is because of this trust in your care for the people that I respectfully plead with you: please find time from your busy schedule to visit these institutions yourself. There is no substitute for seeing, listening and understanding firsthand what our citizens are going through.
“I also wish to commend those who have had the courage to raise their voices on matters of public interest. Their advocacy reflects a belief in the kind of leadership you represent—a leadership that listens, acts and puts people first.”
His statement came amidst heightened public scrutiny of the healthcare system, exacerbated by the recent death of popular Sungura musician Tatenda Pinjisi.
A video circulated on social media showed Pinjisi, injured and hospitalised after a car accident, pleading for painkillers.
This incident has amplified existing concerns about the availability of basic medical supplies and the overall functionality of the healthcare sector.
The healthcare system in Zimbabwe has faced significant challenges attributed to prolonged economic instability, allegations of corruption, and administrative deficiencies.
The country has consistently fallen short of the Abuja Declaration’s mandate to allocate at least 15% of the national budget to health.
