Dr Ishmael Sibanda’s PhD challenges Matabeleland stereotype

By Shelton Muchena
BULAWAYO – On Friday, the University of the Western Cape in South Africa held its graduation ceremony and among the graduates was Dr Ishmael Sibanda from Kezi, Matabeleland.
Dr Sibanda graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Science Education.
He joins a growing pool of academics from the region who have excelled in education, challenging the long-standing stereotype that Matabeleland is not producing academics.
In 2015, people from the region were subjected to negative stereotypes when they were portrayed as notorious criminals who lacked the education needed to secure decent jobs.
More than a decade after those remarks, the region continues to produce academics who are excelling in education, as demonstrated by Dr Sibanda’s graduation yesterday.
Although Matabeleland is often associated with low pass rates, dry climatic conditions, poverty and underdevelopment, its people continue to challenge these stereotypes through their achievements in education and other professional fields.
Born in Kezi, Matabeleland South, Sibanda has joined a growing number of Zimbabweans from the region who have attained the highest levels of academic achievement.
Speaking to this publication, Dr Sibanda described his academic journey as a humbling experience that required sacrifices not only from him but also from his family and his late mother.
“This is a journey of sacrifice, not only for me but for my family and my late mother,” he said.
His doctoral research examined the use of a Dialogical Argumentation Instructional Model (DAIM) to improve Grade 11 learners’ understanding of scientific and indigenous conceptions of heat and temperature in the OR Tambo Coastal District of South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
Behind the academic title, however, lies a deeply personal story of hardship and perseverance.
As the youngest child in his family, Sibanda faced challenges that are familiar to many children who grow up in households where parents are ageing, financial resources are limited and family responsibilities are increasingly demanding.
His difficulties were compounded by the loss of his father when he was just five years old. His mother, a peasant farmer in the dry landscapes of Kezi, worked hard to support her family and ensure that her children had an opportunity to pursue education.
Tragically, she passed away shortly after Sibanda obtained his first Diploma in Education at Hillside Teachers’ College, missing the opportunity to witness the full extent of the academic journey she had helped make possible.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by last-born children, Sibanda explained that family circumstances can make the pursuit of education particularly difficult.
“Most last-born children face problems when growing up. Sometimes resources are limited, and they have to rely on their parents’ pensions. Naturally, by the time the last-born child is growing up, parents may be older, and the family’s resources may have diminished,” he said.
Despite these obstacles, Sibanda remained determined to continue his education.
After completing his initial studies, he secured a teaching position at Dombodema Secondary School in Plumtree. However, his ambition extended beyond the classroom, and he remained committed to pursuing further academic qualifications.
His opportunity to continue studying was complicated by his employment status. Still on probation, he faced uncertainty about whether he could proceed with his plans while retaining the security of his job.
Faced with a difficult choice, he decided to prioritise education, relinquishing the relative security of employment to pursue his dream.
The sacrifices did not end there. To finance his studies at Midlands State University, Sibanda sold his belongings. His brothers and sisters also supported him, demonstrating the importance his family placed on education. Some of his siblings have since attained PhDs of their own, making academic achievement a remarkable feature of the family’s story.
At Midlands State University, he graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Chemistry before moving to South Africa to continue his academic journey.
There, he obtained a Bachelor of Education Honours in Natural Science Education, followed by a Master of Education in Natural Science Education, before completing his Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education.
Today, Dr Ishmael Sibanda joins a distinguished pool of successful academics and professionals from Kezi who have made significant contributions to science, medicine, academia and business.
Among them is his brother, Dr Bhekimpilo Sibanda, also a renowned educationist with roots from Donkwe-Donkwe.
Another prominent figure is Prof Sikhulile Moyo, whose roots are in Donkwe-Donkwe village in Kezi. He gained international recognition in 2021 when his research team at the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute for HIV Research helped identify and sequence the Omicron variant of COVID-19. His work in medical virology and pathogen genomics has positioned him among the scientists making significant contributions to global public health.
Kezi is also associated with Professor Doreen Zandile Moyo, who was born in Gwanda and attended primary school in Donkwe-Donkwe. She earned a PhD in Veterinary Parasitology in 1999 through studies involving the University of Zimbabwe and Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She subsequently built a career in university research and academic leadership at Midlands State University.
The achievements of these individuals demonstrate the intellectual potential that exists within Kezi and the wider Matabeleland region.