Chief (78) graduates with Masters Degree

Seventy-eight year old Chief Mashayamombe graduated yesterday from the Zimbabwe Open University with a Masters degree.

He was among 1 554 graduates that attained degrees and diplomas with the university and were capped by President Mugabe.

Chief Mashayamombe whose name is Ignatious Steven Chiketa from Mhondoro graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Peace, Leadership and Conflict Resolution, alongside Midlands traditional leader, Chief Ngungubane Mkwananzi Zama Nthua, who is also a Senator.

Chief Mashayamombe received a standing ovation as his citation was being read before he walked to the podium to be capped.

President Mugabe who had all along been capping students from his seat, had to leave his chair to give Chief Mashayamombe a handshake and he knelt before he was capped by the President.

Addressing graduates, their relatives and other dignitaries, ZOU vice chancellor Professor Primrose Kurasha said the narrative of yesterday's graduation ceremony would be incomplete without mentioning the name of Chiketa, whom he said was a special graduand for 2013.

"This man is none other than Chief Mashayamombe, the 78-year-old paramount chief from the Mhondoro communal lands, an outstanding traditional leader who is as much at home with tradition as he is with education," said Prof Kurasha.

Prof Kurasha wowed the audience when she gave a poetic eulogy of Chief Mashayamombe.

"He who gives the diameter of your knowledge prescribes the circumference of your activity. Mr Chikutsa whose Department gave the honourable chief the diameter of knowledge in Peace Leadership and Conflict Resolution says the circumference of his activities is wide because the chief now, is wide indeed from Peace Transformation to the Psychology of Peace, Tactics of Peace, Conflict Resolution and Development," said Prof Kurasha.

In an interview soon after his graduation, Chief Mashayamombe said he drew inspiration from President Mugabe.

He said the degree was helping him in his efforts and resolving cases at his traditional court.

"This degree is relevant to my work as a traditional leader. Every case that I hear I try to emphasise on peace before I refer it for trial. The relevance of my degree is on conflict resolution. We go to the root cause and after completing a case I make sure that contesting parties reconcile where the offender ask for forgiveness," he said.

He urged the Government to provide funds for those traditional leaders who want to enhance their education.