Sandy has no plans to slow down

Sandra Ndebele has her plate full, but she says she has no plans of slowing down any time soon after she recently turned 32.

SHE is happily married, an ambitious businesswoman, a musician of repute and dabbles in charity work.

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LINDA CHINIOBVA OWN CORRESPONDENT

Sandra Ndebele has her plate full, but she says she has no plans of slowing down any time soon after she recently turned 32. Sandy, as she is affectionately known was recently appointed a goodwill ambassador for Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo and the Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Board.

Ndebele was on Thursday inaugurated as the Mpilo Central Hospital goodwill ambassador at a colourful ceremony. She said she sees herself becoming a “big shot” in the next five years .

“I believe in myself and I know that in five years’ time I will be a big shot. I want to see change in everything I touch. Because I am not only an artist, but also a mother, wife, entrepreneur and goodwill ambassador for both Mpilo Hospital and the Traffic Safety Council, I know I will make it to the top,” she said.

Ndebele has been in the arts industry for 14 years. She is married to Nkanyiso Sibindi and they have two sons.

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“I am a very hardworking woman and that is why I am able to balance my responsibilities. I enjoy travelling and cooking and that keeps me going,” she said.

She owns a boutique in Bulawayo which sales handbags and shoes for females. Ndebele attended Founders and Mpopoma High School, but she never thought that one day she would be a famous artist. She was an active member of the Seventh Day Adventist church.

“When I grew up I never thought that one day I would be a famous lady in the arts industry. Being born and bred in the SDA I was dedicated to Christian life, but because I was good in poetry at school, I found myself pursuing the arts,” she said.

Ndebele has promised to use her fame and talent to change the fortunes of Mpilo Hospital which is a referral health facility for the entire Matabeleland region and beyond.

Her vision is to see the hospital becoming a world-class medical centre.

“Through my name and fame, I promise to uphold the hospital’s noble principles which have been dear to my heart throughout my life. I want to make it my responsibility to uphold the hospital’s name and make it a world class health institution,” she said.

“I want to do something important, something that could potentially help change the lives of the people of Bulawayo.”

Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda said Ndebele has her work cut out as Mpilo’s goodwill ambassador.

“Sandra is responsible for linking the hospital with the community and business world at large. Her job is not an easy one, as it involves hard work, commitment and being a role model in the community,” he said.

However, Ndebele had no kind words for local entertainment scribes, accusing the news hounds of being laid back compared to their “aggressive” counterparts in Harare.

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“Personally I feel that the journalists in Bulawayo do not really keep tabs on local artists. In Harare the artists are shinning because the journalists have their backs, but here it’s a different story I tell you,” she said.

Meanwhile, the vibrant musician said she has just done a collaboration with Jah Prayzah and she was working on another one with Iyasa.

She is also rehearsing for a local drama where she is the main character. It will be released soon.