Former University of Zimbabwe (UZ) vice-chancellor Professor Levy Nyagura has said former first lady Grace Mugabe’s controversial doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree was awarded in line with the institution’s rules and regulations.
Prof Nyagura was UZ vice-chancellor when the degree was awarded in 2014 while Grace’s husband, the late president Robert Mugabe, was university chancellor.
Appearing in court for the first time after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) completed its investigations, Nyagura, through his lawyer Tawanda Zhuwara, denied any wrongdoing. He said:
To the accused’s knowledge, the conferment of the application was done lawfully and in accordance with the latitudes afforded such functionaries.
Nyagura argued that that the university to date has neither withdrawn, cancelled nor disowned the degree conferred on the former first lady.
He said this was proof of “the fact that it is authentic and deserved”.
The state is yet to prove that the degree was awarded within months after Grace enrolled at UZ.