Mugabe to get another honorary doctorate

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is set to receive an honorary doctorate from the Great Zimbabwe University when the institution holds its graduation ceremony tomorrow, vice-chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo has said.

"It is true that we are going to confer the president with an honorary Doctorate of African Heritage Philosophy at our graduation ceremony tomorrow," said Zvobgo.

"We chose that particular doctorate because he is the one who conceived cultural heritage studies here. Culture and heritage is our niche area."

Mugabe is the chancellor of all State universities in Zimbabwe.

The doctorate will become another of the many honorary degrees the veteran ruler has received locally and internationally during his 33-year rule.

He has about 15 degrees, seven of which he earned through his own efforts while the remainder are honorary.

However, some international institutions that had awarded Mugabe honorary degrees were petitioned to strip him of the honours for alleged human rights violations.

Among the universities that were petitioned in 2009 are the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, University of Massachusetts and Michigan State University in the United States.

The University of Edinburgh conferred Mugabe with an honorary degree in 1984 after the euphoria of independence, while University of Massachusetts awarded him an honorary doctorate of law in 1986.

The Michigan State University gave Mugabe honorary degrees in 1984 and 1990.