Bhekimpilo Mthandazo Sibanda
Premium memorial FeaturedLovingly known as “Bheki”
25 February 1952 — 1 November 2024 · aged 72
Locomotive fitter at NRZ Bulawayo, and Bosso's most loyal supporter for fifty years
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Born in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North Resting at Sibanda family homestead, TsholotshoAbout Bhekimpilo
The first black-and-white scarf Bheki Sibanda ever owned was knitted by his mother in 1962, and he was buried with its fifth replacement. In between lay fifty years of home matches at Barbourfields and a love for Highlanders, 'Bosso', that outlasted every trophy drought.
Born in Tsholotsho in 1952, Bhekimpilo was the third of seven children. He herded cattle as a boy, walked six kilometres to school and in 1970 won a place at the Bulawayo Technical College, where he trained in mechanical engineering. In 1974 he joined National Railways of Zimbabwe at the Bulawayo locomotive workshops, and for thirty-eight years he repaired steam and diesel engines, becoming the man the apprentices went to when a stubborn fault would not yield.
He could identify a locomotive from the sound of its whistle two kilometres away. He trained dozens of apprentices, never raised his voice, and brought each of them home for a Sunday meal of isitshwala and ulude. Through the years of retrenchment and delayed wages, he kept the workshop running with improvised parts and patient humour.
On match days he wore the scarf and led a branch of supporters from Mpopoma in song, and at home he kept a shoebox of ticket stubs that his children found fascinating and his wife found infuriating. He married Thembelihle Moyo in 1979, raised three children, and spent his retirement in his garden in Mzilikazi, growing maize, beans and one famous pumpkin.
Bheki died in Bulawayo in November 2024 after a short illness, and was laid to rest at the family homestead in Tsholotsho. He leaves his wife of forty-five years, three children and twelve grandchildren.
“Every engine will start again if you listen to it long enough.”
- Faith
- Christian
- Place of birth
- Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North
- Resting place
- Sibanda family homestead, Tsholotsho
- Passed away
- 1 November 2024, Bulawayo
Funeral Service
Wednesday, 6 November 2024 at 08:00 UTC
Add to calendarMemorial fund
Funeral transport & family support fund
Help transport mourners to Tsholotsho, cover funeral costs and support the grandchildren's school fees.
$1,733.75 raised of $3,000
58%20 recent contributions
- MN
Mohammed Nazir gave $47.50 · 1y ago
- MN
Mohammed Nazir gave $28.50 · 1y ago
- AN
Anonymous gave $47.50 · 1y ago
“For the children's school fees.”
- PM
Pastor Daniel Mwenda gave $23.75 · 1y ago
- PB
Prof. Kofi Boakye gave $14.25 · 1y ago
“For the children's school fees.”
Life journey
Certificate in Mechanical Engineering
Bulawayo Technical College1970 – 1973 · Bulawayo
First in his family to earn a trade qualification.
Locomotive Fitter
National Railways of Zimbabwe1974 – 2012 · Bulawayo
Maintained steam and diesel locomotives for thirty-eight years.
Married Thembelihle Moyo
1979 · Bulawayo
A marriage of forty-five years.
Branch Chairman, Mpopoma Supporters
Highlanders Football Club1996 – 2015 · Bulawayo
Led the Mpopoma branch of Bosso supporters.
Long Service Award
National Railways of Zimbabwe2012 · Bulawayo
For thirty-eight years in the Bulawayo workshops.
Tap an organisation to find others who studied or worked there.
Family & connections
Bhekimpilo is survived by
- Thembelihle Sibanda· Spouse
- Nkosana Sibanda· Son
- Thandeka Sibanda-Ncube· Daughter
- Sithembile Sibanda· Daughter
- 12 grandchildren· Grandchildren
Tributes & memories
6 people have shared a memory of Bhekimpilo.
Knew Bhekimpilo? Share a memory with the family and everyone who loved them.
Sign in to write a tribute- SK
Nephew, Birmingham
My uncle taught me how to bleed brakes, how to tell a lie from a mistake, and how to cheer for a team that rarely wins. All three have served me well. I wear the scarf at home matches in England in his honour.
- NN
Neighbour, Mzilikazi
He gave pumpkins and beans to the whole street. When the maize failed in 2019 he drove to Tsholotsho with a borrowed trailer and came back with enough for all of us. We called him Baba weSizwe, the father of the community.
- RD
Minister, Mzilikazi Methodist Church
Bheki served on our church property committee for eighteen years and never once claimed expenses. When our roof leaked he went up himself with a bucket of tar. He told me it was the same as fixing a train, only quieter.
- SS
Daughter, Johannesburg
Daddy followed Bosso on a radio the size of a brick, even when I lived abroad and had to phone in the scores. On the call he would hold the radio next to the receiver so I could hear the stadium. I will always hear the stadium.
- DM
Colleague at NRZ Bulawayo workshops
He could hear a bad bearing across the workshop floor. Young fitters would shout at him, 'How do you know?' and he would say, 'Because I listen.' He gave me my first spanner and my last piece of advice. Both were correct.
- MN
Fellow Bosso supporter, Mpopoma
We stood on the same patch of terrace at Barbourfields for thirty-one years. He sang the first verse of every song and never missed a match, even the one in the rain when the referee ended it after twenty minutes. Siyabonga, Bheki. Bosso will sing for you.
