News / National
'University of Zimbabwe now a factory of fake degrees'
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A storm has erupted at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) after the Association of University Teachers (AUT) issued a damning statement accusing the institution's leadership, under Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo, of presiding over what it described as a "factory of fake degrees."
In a scathing critique, AUT said UZ had "lost its integrity, its credibility, and its reputation," alleging that under Mapfumo's administration, academic standards had collapsed, and students were now receiving certifications that lacked academic merit.
At the heart of the lecturers' grievances is what they called a "one-day learning and exam farce" - a controversial practice in which students reportedly receive limited instruction before being rushed through examinations. The AUT argued this is merely one symptom of a broader and more systemic rot.
"The students are being sold fake degrees - degrees that are not worth the paper they are printed on," the AUT charged. "They are being robbed of their right to a quality education, their right to a bright future, and their right to a decent life."
The lecturers reserved particular condemnation for senior academic staff, including department chairpersons and deans, accusing them of enabling the alleged decline by failing to defend academic standards.
"They have become complicit in this charade and travesty," the AUT said, accusing university leadership of turning a blind eye to academic malpractice and placing institutional reputation above scholarly integrity.
The AUT's statement was especially harsh on Vice Chancellor Mapfumo, who it labelled a "master of deception" and "a virtuoso of fake degrees." The association alleged that students were "forced to buy their degrees, pay for grades, and pay for their certification," painting a picture of a university that has abandoned academic ethics in favour of commercial gain.
The lecturers' union is now calling on all stakeholders - including government, alumni, and the public - to intervene and rescue the country's flagship institution from what they described as an unprecedented crisis.
"We must stand up against this factory of fake degrees," the statement said. "We demand a quality education, a bright future, and a decent life. The students, the lecturers, and the nation deserve better."
The University of Zimbabwe, once a regional beacon of academic excellence, has in recent years been dogged by reports of political interference, falling standards, and administrative controversy. The latest accusations are likely to deepen scrutiny of the institution's leadership and raise broader concerns about the state of higher education in Zimbabwe.
At the time of publication, UZ officials had not responded to requests for comment on the AUT's allegations.
In a scathing critique, AUT said UZ had "lost its integrity, its credibility, and its reputation," alleging that under Mapfumo's administration, academic standards had collapsed, and students were now receiving certifications that lacked academic merit.
At the heart of the lecturers' grievances is what they called a "one-day learning and exam farce" - a controversial practice in which students reportedly receive limited instruction before being rushed through examinations. The AUT argued this is merely one symptom of a broader and more systemic rot.
"The students are being sold fake degrees - degrees that are not worth the paper they are printed on," the AUT charged. "They are being robbed of their right to a quality education, their right to a bright future, and their right to a decent life."
The lecturers reserved particular condemnation for senior academic staff, including department chairpersons and deans, accusing them of enabling the alleged decline by failing to defend academic standards.
"They have become complicit in this charade and travesty," the AUT said, accusing university leadership of turning a blind eye to academic malpractice and placing institutional reputation above scholarly integrity.
The AUT's statement was especially harsh on Vice Chancellor Mapfumo, who it labelled a "master of deception" and "a virtuoso of fake degrees." The association alleged that students were "forced to buy their degrees, pay for grades, and pay for their certification," painting a picture of a university that has abandoned academic ethics in favour of commercial gain.
The lecturers' union is now calling on all stakeholders - including government, alumni, and the public - to intervene and rescue the country's flagship institution from what they described as an unprecedented crisis.
"We must stand up against this factory of fake degrees," the statement said. "We demand a quality education, a bright future, and a decent life. The students, the lecturers, and the nation deserve better."
The University of Zimbabwe, once a regional beacon of academic excellence, has in recent years been dogged by reports of political interference, falling standards, and administrative controversy. The latest accusations are likely to deepen scrutiny of the institution's leadership and raise broader concerns about the state of higher education in Zimbabwe.
At the time of publication, UZ officials had not responded to requests for comment on the AUT's allegations.
Source - pindula
