How Zimbabweans Reacted To Grace Mugabe's PhD Thesis
5 years ago
The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) finally released the thesis for Grace Mugabe’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, almost four years after conferring it on her. For the thesis, the former first lady used her second name and maiden name, “Ntombizodwa G. Marufu” for some reason. The thesis is titled “The changing social structure and functions of the family: The case of children’s homes in Zimbabwe.”
The degree attracted intense criticism amid speculation that Grace did take the required period of time to complete the degree. However, the release of the thesis seems to have intensified the focus on both Grace and the University of Zimbabwe. Here is how some Zimbabweans reacted online.
https://twitter.com/iAmKudaMaynard/status/956736995446816768
https://twitter.com/PedzisaiRuhanya/status/956788046657093632
It took UZ 3 months to award Grace Mugabe a PhD. It took UZ 4 yrs to release Grace Mugabe PhD thesis online https://t.co/ehMRvDDqpE
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— Elias Mambo/Zim Morning Post 🇿🇼🇲🇼 (@elias_mambo) January 25, 2018
UZ blundered by loading Grace Mugabe PhD thesis online….skeletons are now tumbling…Academic fraud of monumental levels @MJairosi @Wamagaisa @PedzisaiRuhanya
— Elias Mambo/Zim Morning Post 🇿🇼🇲🇼 (@elias_mambo) January 26, 2018
2. I don’t know what they were trying to achieve by releasing the farcical piece of work that they are calling a PhD thesis. The Vice Chancellor and all those involved in this farce should take responsibility or their superiors should bring them to book.
— Alex T Magaisa 🇿🇼 (@Wamagaisa) January 26, 2018
3. Those of us who graduated from the UZ are very proud of our roots but this scandalous episode causes us deep embarrassment. We aspired to go there; it was highly competitive & it was a place of academic excellence. But this scandal has caused untold damage to its standing.
— Alex T Magaisa 🇿🇼 (@Wamagaisa) January 26, 2018
Great investigative work by @iAmKudaMaynard on Fugunde's fraudulent PhD. Academic fraud must never be toleratedhttps://t.co/IL9XlUE26R
@ProfJNMoyo @ali_naka @Wamagaisa @mpofu_ben pic.twitter.com/NXwacfNFJc— mmatigari (@matigary) January 26, 2018
But is it Fair to blame the UZ for the PHD fiasco
Could the University really have denied the first lady what she wanted
At this time last Year the first lady was one of the most powerful persons in the country
Who could say No without endangering themselves or their Jobs
— Saberstian🇿🇼 (@SaberstianZW) January 26, 2018
University of Zimbabwe took 3 months to produce and give Grace Mugabe a PhD, and they took 4 years to make the thesis public.
— C. S Chiwanza (@CSChiwanza) January 26, 2018
Details keep coming out about Zimbabwe’s former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s thesis which has been “missing”… @joeblackzw pic.twitter.com/Xbjb0uqUvF
— Columbus S. Mavhunga (@CocoinZim) January 25, 2018
Surely if @edmnangagwa is serious about tackling rot, heads must roll at the University of Zimbabwe. UZ is a prestigious institution whose legacy & credibility must be defended.
— Majaira Jairosi (@MJairosi) January 26, 2018
Am reliably informed the online loaded Grace PhD is art of Mararike and team who did copy and paste from November 2017 to cover their backs. Grace never defended her PhD as is norm. UZ must fire Mararike and his team of corrupt PhD sellers #HandeiTione pic.twitter.com/LYMzXhagfe
— Rufaz–Jerera❤King❤ (@Mavhure) January 26, 2018
It has some really good traces of plagiarism as well. 8 of the listed references were never used in the thesis text and they loved Wikipedia for some definitions pic.twitter.com/ofKwb8O8r2
— Logan Chasi (@loganchasi) January 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/OpenSpaceZW/status/956553607922573313
I'm of the opinion that for the sake or preserving the pride Zim's oldest and flagship university, the UZ, has had over the decades, VC Levi Nyagura and Mararike should be fired & arrested. After that the government and the UZ itself should unreservedly apologize to the nation.
— My Zimbabwe News (@myzimbabwenews) January 26, 2018
How can the perpetrators of this academid fraud, Grace Mugabe's aiders and abettors, among them Professors Levi Nyagura and Claude Mararike, continue to work at our once great University of Zimbabwe?
— Lashias Ncube (@lashiasn) January 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/LobengulaTm/status/956492046805676032
