Mnangagwa reinstates fired deputy Education minister after he goes on ‘bended knees’ to profusely apologise for a tribal gaffe

Harare- PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has reinstated Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Simelisizwe Sibanda after he reportedly went on bended knees and profusely apologised to Mnangagwa and salvaged his pardon, Express Mail Zim can report.

Sibanda was fired after he was recorded berating a Shona-speaking teacher stationed in Matabeland South.

The minister was secretly recorded throwing tantrums at an Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher identified as Winnet Mharadze alleging that she was not being conversant in Isindebele despite of the geographical location of her workstation.

Sibanda is said to have sent a batallion of emissaries to apologise to Mnangagwa after realising his gaffe and inside sources say he literally cried like a baby.

“It’s cold out there when you leave Zanu PF or government and Sibanda literally cried and sent several emmisaries to the President who pardoned him using his leniency and open door policy.

” He is a listening president, ” said our inside source.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya said the re-appointment was with immediate effect.

“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.

“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, ”read the statement.

Sibanda is one of the few ministers who have been reinstated after being out under the guillotine.

Ministry of Finance permanent secretary George Guvamatanga is one of the recent powerful civil servants to be given a second chance after his scalp was targeted following allegations of misappropriation of funds involving agro-seeds supply.

The alleged case sucked in controversial Valley Seed director Tichawonna Maponga who os allegedly working with Chinese investors in a dodgy scheme to set up a seed plant in Concession located at the former Cottco depot.

It is not clear how they managed to occupy that site, but Express Mail Zim has it on good authority that Maponga and company regularly visit the site in personal helicopters that they acquired after the alleged Pfumvudza ghost seeds supply loot that the authorities turned a blind eye on after possibly financial muscle inspired manipulation.

Maponga could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.