PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has pardoned former Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development deputy minister Simelisizwe Sibanda and reinstated him nearly a month after sacking the lawmaker for stirring a tribal row.
Sibanda was last month fired after ordering the dismissal of a teacher with a Shona name from a school in Bubi.
The reinstatement of Sibanda is with immediate effect, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya said in a statement last night.
“Following representations, profuse apologies and undertakings to refrain from similar misdemeanours in future, His Excellency the President, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has decided that Hon Simelisizwe Sibanda be pardoned,” Rushwaya said.
“Accordingly, His Excellency the President, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has in terms of subsection 2 of section 104 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, appointed Hon Simelisizwe Sibanda MP as the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.”
Sibanda sank to a new low recently after demanding the transfer of an early childhood development (ECD) teacher with a Shona surname from a primary school in Bubi.
He said this was because the teacher was incapable of teaching young children in their local isiNdebele language.
During a meeting at the school on June 24, Sibanda ordered Clonmore Primary School head to immediately transfer ECD teacher Winnet Mharadze from the school.
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He later issued an apology saying he should have followed proper channels to air the grievance.
