Mnangagwa fires deputy minister for ethnic boob

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has dismissed Deputy Minister of Higher Education Simelisizwe Sibanda after he demanded the transfer of an Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher who allegedly could not speak Ndebele at Clonnmore Primary School in Bubi, where he is MP.

The incident, which occurred on June 24, 2024, has drawn widespread condemnation.

“It is with utmost shock and disbelief that we have learnt of the rogue and thuggish behaviour of Bubi MP, Simelisizwe Sibanda, against an ECD female teacher, Winnet Mharadze, at Clonnmore Primary School,” said Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou. “The MP interrogated the teacher simply because of her ethnic identity and ordered her summary dismissal,” Zhou added in a statement.

During introductions by the school head, Sifiso Buhlungu, the irate MP questioned Mharadze about her presence in the Bubi constituency, saying, “Head, can you assist me, transfer this teacher as soon as possible? Make sure that by Monday, she is gone.”