Mugabe 'taken to court' over Grace's controversial PhD

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) said are reportedly taking Mugabe to court over Grace Mugabe's doctorate.

They also want clarification on the doctorate awarded to Vice-President Joice Mujuru, who graduated on the same day as Grace, with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Faculty of Commerce.

Mujuru's thesis though, is on the University of Zimbabwe's (UZ) website unlike Grace's.

Zinasu's president Gilbert Mutubuki said the union had engaged the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to assist them in their bid for Mugabe and UZ administration to justify the awarding of the doctorates.

He said students and other interested parties had failed to get an explanation from the institution.

President Robert Mugabe, who capped both his wife and Mujuru, will be cited in his capacity as the chancellor of the university while UZ's vice chancellor, who oversees the day to day running of the institution, will also be cited.

Mutubuki said the students expect to file their application in the High Court on Wednesday.

"As students we believe we have the locus standi to file such an application. We want to protect the image and reputation of the University of Zimbabwe hence our action.

"We believe politicians should not abuse the University of Zimbabwe or its staff to fight their factional wars.

"We understand that both the Vice President [Mujuru] and the President's wife have very high political ambitions, but they should not use the UZ to achieve their goals."

Mutubuki said he was being intimidated for challenging those in authority to justify the awarding of Grace's PHD, but said he would soldier on.

He said Zimbabweans should not stop debating the issue and demanding answers.

Grace Mugabe has previously made headlines for being a poor student and in 1998, local media reported that she failed all three subjects she was tested for at the University of London where she was studying for a bachelor of arts degree in English.

She was eventually deregistered by the university after failing most of her examinations.

Apparently, she failed explorations in literature I (9%), explorations in literature II (18%), and renaissance comedy: Shakespeare and Jonson (17%).

The following year she repeated the three subjects, but again failed explorations in literature I (31%), renaissance comedy: Shakespeare and Jonson (29%).

She, however, improved in explorations in literature II, gaining 42%. In the same year she attempted an additional subject, approaches to text, but failed, scoring only 7%.