President Emmerson Mnangagwa has, in terms of Section 108 (1a) of the Constitution, dismissed Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Simelisizwe Sibanda, with immediate effect. The opposition has latched onto the removal to stoke tribal tensions for political expediency.
It is trite to note that the President has a constitutionally mandated prerogative to appoint or dismiss any minister if he or she does not meet the high performance-based bar set by His Excellency. Section 108 (a) under the title “Tenure of Office of Ministers and Deputy Ministers” stipulates that, “The office of a Minister or Deputy Minister becomes vacant— if (a) the President removes him or her from office; (b) if he or she resigns from office by written notice to the President; (c) upon the assumption of office by a new President.”
Section 107 on accountability of Vice-Presidents, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers states that, “Subject to this Constitution, every Vice-President, Minister, and Deputy Minister is accountable, collectively and individually
