Source: Revealed: How Grace got her ‘fake’ PhD – The Standard February 18, 2018
University of Zimbabwe (UZ) vice-chancellor Levi Nyagura allegedly took the institution’s lecturers to Grace Mugabe’s Mazowe orphanage so she could take oral examinations for her disputed Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, a Harare court heard yesterday.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Nyagura (72) was arrested on Friday for alleged criminal abuse of office for his role in the awarding of the degree to the former first lady.
Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande was told Nyagura single-handedly accepted the wife of former president Robert Mugabe’s application to study for the PhD without the knowledge of the UZ’s sociology department.
Prosecutor Oscar Madhume said in 2011 Nyagura approved Ntombizodwa G Marufu (Grace’s maiden name) application without the knowledge and recommendations of the departmental board and faculty of higher degrees committee in violation of UZ quality assurance guidelines and benchmark.
He said during the same period, Nyagura appointed Professor Claude Mararike and Professor Chaneta to supervise Grace without the knowledge and approval of the department.
Nyagura is accused of usurping the powers of the UZ senate by single-handedly appointing examiners for Mugabe’s research in violation of the UZ Act chapter 25:16 and Ordinance 1998/99.
Nyagura allegedly led supervisors and examiners to Mugabe’s Mazowe orphanage, where the defence oral examination was purportedly done without the knowledge and approval of the academic committee while in actual fact the examination is supposed to be done at the UZ premises.
The prosecution alleged that during the same year, Nyagura recommended to Mugabe that Grace should be awarded the PhD.
This was allegedly done without the knowledge of the UZ council and academic committee.
The sociology department distanced itself from both the candidate and awarding of the degree as it was done without their knowledge. Prosecutors said Grace did not meet the minimum requirements to study for the degree.
Nyagura, who is represented by advocate Lewis Uriri, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to March 5 on $200 bail.
As part of his bail conditions, Nyagura was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses who include lecturers.
COMMENTS
Meanwhile, thousands of poorly financed families are going very deep in debt in order to send their children to private secondary schools, because during the Mugabe years, backed by ZANUPF, the public educational system has been defrauded and decimated to the point that the education they provide is agreed to be worthless. Mismanagement and diverting funds to private use has handcuffed the dedicated teachers who have done what they could to slow the erosion of talented kids who were abandoned by ZANUPF, Mugabe, and their politically-inspired appointments of worthless characters to high positions. I declare to you that teachers, above every other profession, have more influence on the future direction, success, or failure of a society. Get rid of the bad ones, and pay the good ones what they are worth… Mugabe and ZANUPF did neither.
Guys lets come to our senses and stop victimising one another on issues beyond our control. Who on their normal senses could say NO to Mugabe and keep their jobs or even their life. If I was Nyagura i could still do the same to save my job and my life. ED how many crimes have you committed not because you wanted but you just did it to save your life. Ko Nyagura apareyi hake. If Mugabe said I want your wife, who would have the guts to say NO. If it was you ED, were you going to stop Grace to get what she want. She insulted you publicly and you kept quite so how on earth could you expect a mere Nyagura to the Mugabes to get what they wanted. As much as i respect you president inzwaiwo tsitsi. Remember when they said you are out of job you run away to save your life. Ko dai Nyagura akati kwete amai pano paUniversity hatiite zvetsvete aizogonawo kutiza here sezvamakaita. As an independent observer I see Nyagura as a victim and whoever fascilitate his arrest is not normal.