By Panashe Hamudiwamwe
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reappointed Hon. Simelisizwe Sibanda as the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development after being previously dismissed for making tribalistic remarks to a Non-Ndebele-speaking teacher working in Matabeleland North province.
According to a communiqué issued by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr. Martin Rushwaya, on Wednesday evening, Hon. Sibanda’s reappointment comes after he made amends, apologized sincerely, and committed to refraining from similar behavior in the future.
“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,” said Dr. Martin Rushwaya in a statement.
“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 M.P. as the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. The appointment is with immediate effect.”
Hon. Sibanda was appointed Deputy Minister after his resounding win with 11,208 votes in the Bubi Constituency against CCC’s Bekithemba Mabhena, who garnered 4,672 votes, in the 2023 Harmonized elections.
The 44-year-old legislator holds two Master’s degrees from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), a Master of Science degree in Biodiversity Conservation and a Master of Science degree in Disaster Management, another Master of Science degree in Peace, Leadership, and Conflict Resolution from the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
