via Academic calls for Mugabe studies at Uni – NewZimbabwe 01 March 2015
ZIMBABWE’s state media on Sunday praised President Robert Mugabe’s “intellectual clarity” and “ideological steadfastness” a day after the long-time leader celebrated his 91st birthday with a huge party and eight cakes.
The state-run Sunday Mail said Mugabe, who has been in power in Zimbabwe for nearly 35 years, was “one of a dying breed of politicians”.
“The thing is, they don’t make them like President Mugabe anymore,” the paper said in its editorial, claiming that Zimbabweans “love their president”.
An estimated 20 000 people attended a huge birthday party in Victoria Falls on Saturday, feasting on elephant and 91 cattle, according to reports.
Dressed in a black suit and red neckerchief, Mugabe let off balloons, spoke for two hours and ate cake.
The event was believed to have cost more than a million US dollars, and sparked some criticism given Zimbabwe’s mounting economic problems.
Around 76% of all Zimbabwean adults live on less than US$200 a month, according to recently-released statistics.
But the Zimbabwean leader’s supporters are in favour of extending the birthday celebrations.
The Sunday Mail reported that “one day [is] not enough” to honour him.
Professor Caiphas Nziramasanga told the paper that studies on Mugabe should be incorporated into the national school syllabus.
“If you look at American studies they… have topics specifically on Abraham Lincoln. When it comes to us, we seem to be afraid of honouring our own people,” Nziramasanga was quoted as saying.
The privately-owned Standard took the opposite view, with columnist Chipo Masara arguing that Mugabe “now lacks the energy to drive this nation forward”.
“As much as there are multitudes of people that literally worship him like some demigod, at 91 Mugabe is now a very old man indeed and cannot be entrusted with leadership of this great nation,” Masara wrote.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change still believes that Mugabe cheated his way to victory in polls in 2013 that brought to an end a four-year coalition.
COMMENTS
Incorporating Mugabe in syllabi- height hero worshipping!!
A very good idea. As long as the subject line is “How to destroy your country” Or Ten ways to destroy your country” Syllabus 2 “The best way to blame others” or “How to refuse to hand over power after losing an election”
What a nation of fawning and obsequious cowards we Zimbabweans have become. How can anyone, even with half a brain, come up with the nonsense that we have had to endure over Mugabe’s birthday bash this last week. What, with pages upon endless pages of whimpering, grovelling and servile praises, for a man that has almost all on his own, destroyed our Motherland. And on top of it all these silly adverts were placed in newspapers by Government and quasi-Government bodies. This makes it certain that the very people that Mugabe has destroyed, pay for such rubbish. What a travesty of justice.
And now there is a call for a chair of Mugabe Studies at our national university. What utter nonsense. What Faculty of that institution would be prepared to take such a degree course under its supervision? Certainly not Commerce, not Agriculture, not Education, not Engineering, Law, Health Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Social Studies, Science… So unfortunately it will have to be that home for orphans’ faculty…Arts. But for goodness sake what would the study modules for such studies be called?, “How to rid yourself of political enemies AMS 101?”, “How to drown a brother who seduces your wife AMS 102?”, “Destroying food security by seizing productive farms AMS 201”, “How to salt away millions of US dollars in a Malaysian Bank on a salary of US $2000.00 a month AMS 202?”, “How to have children after a successful penectomy AMS 301?” “How to eat an elephant, and a lion, and a sable, and a buffalo all at one sitting AMS 302?”. AMS…Arts Mugabe Studies. It does have a nice ring to it, and should bring in a few unsuspecting students.
I had to really smile at the statement that Mugabe was “one of a dying breed of politicians”. The simple mentioning of “Mugabe” and “dying” in the same breath made me shiver with excitement. Roll on that glorious day! When will ZANU PF ever produce a man or a woman that will speak truth to power?. The answer must be never, so the solution to our problems must come from within ourselves.
Of course they are right in equating him with a “dying breed of politicians.” He is in my own perception one of the few dictators left in the world and that particular brand of politician is indeed a dying breed!
I support the introduction of Mugabe in studies because students as future leaders will know how one can destroy a country’s economy.Mugabe is the best case study for economy destruction, election rigging, corrupt governance etc.I doubt if Professor Nziramasanga meant what he said considering his education, unless he is looking for promotion.