User:Langa Sibanda

Langa Lloyd (nee Sibanda) Born 31st July 1969 in Zimbabwe. The British Founder of Leaf Trust and entrepreneurial business woman.

Early Life Langa was born in Kezi and is the youngest daughter of Pardon and Khiwa Sibanda. She attended Homestead Primary School in Kezi before moving to Bulawayo at the age of eight. Langa attended Losikeyi Primary School moving onto Eveline High School and Townsend High School. Attending the University of Zimbabwe Langa graduated with an honours degree in Political Science and Administration.

Career: Langa started modelling at University and in 1994 she modelled the winning designer outfit at the Rothmans Designer of the Year. She later participated in the Durban July. Later in 1994 she entered Zimbabwe Supermodel of the Year and received special mention from the judges with high praise which led to a modelling contract with G3 Model Agency in South Africa.

In 1995 Langa moved to South Africa and starred in the WELLA Television commercials among other commercials of the time. In 1996 Langa entered the Miss Universe competition for Zimbabwe, representing the country in Las Vegas. Langa launched her own clothing line called 'Langa Design' and dressed the country’s most elite woman. In 1998 Langa became the first black designer to win 'Zimbabwe Designer of the Year Award'. Following on from this Langa opened a ladies boutique in Harare expanding her business to include wardrobe planning and investment dressing for frontline office staff and corporate clients.

Langa used her modelling experience to help others and worked at the Silhouette Modelling Agency in Zimbabwe helping launch the careers of promising young models including Marilyn Ngondo, Leonie Chalmers, Heather Tshuma and Lenah Zinyama who went on to win second place in the Elite Face of Africa. Using her retail knowledge Langa went on to open her own gift shop in 1999 which supplied gift solutions for corporate clients.

In 2001 Langa migrated to England where she met her husband, Justin David Lloyd. They married in 2002 in Surrey and now live in Kent. They have an adopted daughter Nanziwe and a granddaughter Owami. Langa worked closely with World Vision Zimbabwe and other charities during her reign as Miss Zimbabwe. Langa launched the child sponsorship programme for World Vision Zimbabwe and through her charity work Langa realised how much she could help others. This love of charity work has stayed with her and in 2011 launched Leaf Trust. Lifeline Education Advancement Fund (LEAF) is a non-profit, education trust based in the UK, dedicated to investing in the education of orphans and underprivileged children in Zimbabwe. In the first 6 months of the Trust Langa was able to provide the funds to sponsor 25 children through school who would have otherwise not been in the education system. Her work is on-going and fundraising efforts are key to the success of the Trust.