RISE Mzansi National Leader
Songezo Zibi
Born (1975-12-27) 27 December 1975
Mqanduli, Transkei
NationalitySouth African
EducationNelson Mandela University, BCom, 1998
Occupation(s)Writer, editor, communications leader and politician
Political partyRISE Mzansi

Songezo Zibi (born 27 December 1975) is the National Leader of the political party, Rise Mzansi. He is a writer, former Associate Editor of the Financial Mail, and former Editor of Business Day, South Africa’s leading business and economy daily newspaper.

Early life

Songezo Zibi was born in 1975 in Mqanduli what was then the rural apartheid Bantustan of the Transkei and today is the Eastern Cape. He is the only child of a single mother, Nomfundo Zibi, who worked as a teacher. Zibi was raised by his grandparents, Christopher and Lynette Zibi, who were both community leaders in Zwelitsha Location.[1] He attended Phangindlela Junior Secondary School in Mqanduli, St John’s College in Mthatha and All Saints College in Bhisho. Zibi has said that being raised in rural South Africa has been deeply formative to his politics.

Songezo Zibi's uncle, Vuyani Zibi, was an anti-apartheid activist with the armed wing of the ANC, uMkhonto we Sizwe. In 1982, Vuyani Zibi was killed by SADF Special Forces in Maseru, Lesotho.[2]

Education

Songezo Zibi studied for a BCom at Port Elizabeth technikon, which later became part of Nelson Mandela University. At university, he was a member of the Pan Africanist Student Organisation, a member of the Azanian Student Organisation and chairman of the debating society.[1]

Career in Communications

After university, Zibi's first job was in communications and public relations for Volkswagen South Africa. Later he worked in communications for Xstrata. In 2014, Songezo Zibi joined Financial Mail and became the was editor of Business Day. He left Business Day in 2016 to become the spokesperson for Absa. In 2021, Zibi co-founded the think tank, the Rivionia Circle, aimed at deepening political participation in South Africa.[3]

RISE Mzansi

In April 2023, Zibi co-founded the social democratic political party Rise Mzansi, becoming its first national leader. The party is registered to contend for the first time in the 2024 South African general election.

Writing

In his capacity as a journalist and writer, Zibi covers South African politics and policy, economics and social dynamics. He is the author of two books, Manifesto: A New Vision for South Africa (2022)[4] and Raising the Bar: Hope and Renewal in South Africa (2014).[5]

Personal Life

Songezo Zibi is married to Babalwa Zibi. He has three children.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Venter, Isabel. "Meet Songezo Zibi, the man at the helm of SA's new political party, Rise Mzansi". You. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  2. ↑ "Truth Commission - Special Report -". sabctrc.saha.org.za. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  3. ↑ Mbolekwa, Sisanda (19 April 2023). "'The people must govern': Songezo Zibi launches Rise Mzansi". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  4. ↑ "Manifesto Book – Songezo Zibi". Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  5. ↑ "Raising the Bar by Songezo Zibi". www.panmacmillan.co.za. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
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