By 
By Ross Moyo
Zimbabwe president Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa repented his 1 july decision which saw him fire Bubi constituency legislator Simelisizwe Sibanda, from his post as Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.
The President reappointed the Deputy Minister Sibanda whom he dismissed from the same post on July 1 this year, a rare public gesture by the head of state and government.
The Bubi constituency legislator Simelisizwe Sibanda was pardoned, with his latest appointment, announced in a statement issued by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya yesterday, with immediate effect.
“Following representations, profuse apologies and undertakings to refrain from similar misdemeanors in future, His Excellency the President, Cde. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has decided that Hon. Simelisizwe Sibanda be pardoned,” read the 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.”
Other government ministers fired and fortunate to make a successful comeback albeit after a far longer sabbatical than Simelisizve’s one month fired stint include former Minister of State Security who was fired during the Second Republic’s first term in office only to be reinstated as Minister of State for Midlands Province, replacing the man who allegedly got him fired now Commissioner Larry Mavhima. Another fired deputy minister Energy Mutodi only returned as a Member of Parliament for his Constituency whilst not so lucky deputy ministers Roy Bhila of Industry and Commerce, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Douglas Karoro both axed for corruption the former involving cement and the latter for stealing 700 tonnes of fertilizer and maize seed.
Other Ministers fired who were later acquitted in court include former Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira and former Health Minister Dr. Obadiah Moyo.President Mnangagwa’s former deputy when the President was Vice President and simultaneously Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Advocate Fortune Chasi was replaced by Soda Zhemu after being relieved of his duties as Minister of Energy and Power Development.
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