News / National
Mugabe 'Africa's all-time greatest man'
06 Sep 2012 at 14:40hrs | Views
Higher Education minister Stan Mudenge yesterday used every sugarâ€"coated adjective to describe President Robert Mugabe, saying even enemies of the 88-year-old leader had been left green with envy at his "encyclopaedic" memory, wisdom and courage.
Introducing Mugabe - who was the guest speaker at the official launch of the Research and Intellectual Expo 2012 in Harare - Mudenge spoke glowingly of the Zanu PF leader for more than 20 minutes.
He described Mugabe as a "colossal figure, a fountain of knowledge and wisdom, a teacher, father, fearless and consistent politician".
"He has been rated one of Africa's all-time greatest men," Mudenge gushed.
He said Finance minister Tendai Biti, who is also MDC-T secretary-general, had showered Mugabe with praises that matched those of former United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray, who admitted Mugabe was intelligent and had a sharp memory.
"The Zimbabwean Ambassador to Senegal, Trudy Stevenson - I don't know if she is from MDC-N or MDC-M - she said the Senegalese say Mugabe is the greatest man who has stood firm against the colonisers," Mudenge said.
"She said she admired him. If all this is from his enemies, what will I say, a person who has worked with him?"
Mugabe shook his head while the auditorium burst into laughter.
Earlier, Mudenge, who was walking with the aid of a cane, had been described as a young man by Washington Mbizvo, the secretary in his ministry, because he had just remarried. In March, the minister was attacked by a raging bull at his Masvingo rural home and was hospitalised for some days.
He married his third wife in May.
When he took to the podium, Mugabe simply said: "After all what the Minister of Higher Education has said and the various praises, I would like to say I, in a humble way, feel honoured to be invited to this event of academic dignitaries."
He went on to urge universities to improve their strategic thinking and avoid random recruitment of students in faculties without prior research on the country's skills demands.
The expo ends tomorrow.
It was organised under the theme â€" Research, Innovation and Creativity for Sustainable Development.
Mugabe, who is the chancellor of all State universities, praised the Gweru-based Midlands State University for being innovative and introducing degree programmes that were in demand.
"The African paradigm of education has serious implications for the curriculum design in Zimbabwe," he said.
"My presentation here is another wake-up call for revamping of the content and methodology of our schools, colleges and university standards and aspirations. It calls for the urgent re-engineering of the entire university curriculum."
He called on universities to produce students who were keen to be employers in line with the indigenisation programme.
Introducing Mugabe - who was the guest speaker at the official launch of the Research and Intellectual Expo 2012 in Harare - Mudenge spoke glowingly of the Zanu PF leader for more than 20 minutes.
He described Mugabe as a "colossal figure, a fountain of knowledge and wisdom, a teacher, father, fearless and consistent politician".
"He has been rated one of Africa's all-time greatest men," Mudenge gushed.
He said Finance minister Tendai Biti, who is also MDC-T secretary-general, had showered Mugabe with praises that matched those of former United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray, who admitted Mugabe was intelligent and had a sharp memory.
"The Zimbabwean Ambassador to Senegal, Trudy Stevenson - I don't know if she is from MDC-N or MDC-M - she said the Senegalese say Mugabe is the greatest man who has stood firm against the colonisers," Mudenge said.
"She said she admired him. If all this is from his enemies, what will I say, a person who has worked with him?"
Mugabe shook his head while the auditorium burst into laughter.
Earlier, Mudenge, who was walking with the aid of a cane, had been described as a young man by Washington Mbizvo, the secretary in his ministry, because he had just remarried. In March, the minister was attacked by a raging bull at his Masvingo rural home and was hospitalised for some days.
He married his third wife in May.
When he took to the podium, Mugabe simply said: "After all what the Minister of Higher Education has said and the various praises, I would like to say I, in a humble way, feel honoured to be invited to this event of academic dignitaries."
He went on to urge universities to improve their strategic thinking and avoid random recruitment of students in faculties without prior research on the country's skills demands.
The expo ends tomorrow.
It was organised under the theme â€" Research, Innovation and Creativity for Sustainable Development.
Mugabe, who is the chancellor of all State universities, praised the Gweru-based Midlands State University for being innovative and introducing degree programmes that were in demand.
"The African paradigm of education has serious implications for the curriculum design in Zimbabwe," he said.
"My presentation here is another wake-up call for revamping of the content and methodology of our schools, colleges and university standards and aspirations. It calls for the urgent re-engineering of the entire university curriculum."
He called on universities to produce students who were keen to be employers in line with the indigenisation programme.
Source - newsday
