News / National
Grace Mugabe's PhD degree: Students cry foul
22 Sep 2014 at 08:03hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) yesterday piled on the pressure on the University of Zimbabwe describing the doctorate awarded to First Lady Grace Mugabe last week as genetically modified doctorate, which has shamed local academia.
Zinasu coordinator Samuel Gwenzi said the doctorate was bogus and a mockery to thousands of students genuinely seeking to pursue studies.
However UZ vice chancellor Levy Nyagura has remained tight lipped as the scandal festers on.
Soon after being shoe-horned into the top ranks of Zimbabwe's ruling party, the wife of ageing leader President Robert Mugabe has gained a PhD in orphanages, seen as the latest sign that she may be destined for high office.
In a country where the path to power is paved with academic letters, analysts said the timing of the First Lady's surprise qualification was no coincidence.
Armed with a PhD, a seat in the Zanu-PF politburo and her 90-year-old husband's ear at home, Grace has become a political force as the battle hots up to succeed the only leader Zimbabwe has known since independence in 1980.
Her qualification was celebrated in Zanu-PF, where it was also taken as a sign of her rising prominence.
However, this could prove too much for Zanu-PF generals who have always stated they will not recognise a leader who did not fight in the 1970s liberation war against the white-minority government of then-Rhodesia.
University of Zimbabwe has remained mum on the conferment of Doctor of Philosophy degree on First Lady Grace Mugabe despite questions and speculation being raised over the accolade.
Over a week after Grace graduation at the once prestigious institution, analysts said the UZ was not doing itself any good by remaining quiet in the wake of the controversies surrounding the PhD.
They said the credibility of the UZ was now at stake amid claims that the institution's continental rating had fallen drastically since the graduation ceremony.
The analysts said the UZ's silence over the issue appeared to confirm critics who claim the conferment could have been dubious.
Zinasu coordinator Samuel Gwenzi said the doctorate was bogus and a mockery to thousands of students genuinely seeking to pursue studies.
However UZ vice chancellor Levy Nyagura has remained tight lipped as the scandal festers on.
Soon after being shoe-horned into the top ranks of Zimbabwe's ruling party, the wife of ageing leader President Robert Mugabe has gained a PhD in orphanages, seen as the latest sign that she may be destined for high office.
In a country where the path to power is paved with academic letters, analysts said the timing of the First Lady's surprise qualification was no coincidence.
Armed with a PhD, a seat in the Zanu-PF politburo and her 90-year-old husband's ear at home, Grace has become a political force as the battle hots up to succeed the only leader Zimbabwe has known since independence in 1980.
However, this could prove too much for Zanu-PF generals who have always stated they will not recognise a leader who did not fight in the 1970s liberation war against the white-minority government of then-Rhodesia.
University of Zimbabwe has remained mum on the conferment of Doctor of Philosophy degree on First Lady Grace Mugabe despite questions and speculation being raised over the accolade.
Over a week after Grace graduation at the once prestigious institution, analysts said the UZ was not doing itself any good by remaining quiet in the wake of the controversies surrounding the PhD.
They said the credibility of the UZ was now at stake amid claims that the institution's continental rating had fallen drastically since the graduation ceremony.
The analysts said the UZ's silence over the issue appeared to confirm critics who claim the conferment could have been dubious.
Source - dailynews
