The story behind how Grace Mugabe had lecturers from Zimbabwe's top university brought to her orphanage for her PHD exams

godfred akoto

February 20, 2018 7:48 AM

Grace Mugabe is accused of earning her PHD within a six month period at the University of Zimbabwe

Sordid details have emerged about how Zimbabwe's former first lady Grace Mugabe had lecturers from the country's top university brought to her orphanage so she could take an exam as part of her doctoral studies.

The University of Zimbabwe's head Levi Nyagura was arrested in Harare on Friday as part of an ongoing enquiry into the award of a PHD to then first lady Mugabe within six months.

According to Nyagura, lecturers were sent to the Mazowe orphanage in 2014 so she could take her oral exams, a practice that was irregular. Her husband, then president Robert Mugabe served as chancellor of the school at the time.

According to the Standard newspaper, during Nyagura's appearance in court , it emerged that he "single-handedly accepted Grace's application to study for the PhD without the knowledge of the university's sociology department".

Nyagura accepted Mrs. Mugabe's 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".

The court heard that Nyagura appointed Professor Claude Mararike and Professor Chaneta to supervise Grace.

Nyagura pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to March 5 on $200 bail.

godfred akoto

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