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
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It took UZ 3 months to award Grace Mugabe a PhD. It took UZ 4 yrs to release Grace Mugabe PhD thesis online <a href="https://t.co/ehMRvDDqpE">https://t.co/ehMRvDDqpE</a>
— Elias Mambo/Zim Morning Post 🇿🇼🇲🇼 (@elias_mambo) <a href="https://twitter.com/elias_mambo/status/956501724319092737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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UZ blundered by loading Grace Mugabe PhD thesis online….skeletons are now tumbling…Academic fraud of monumental levels <a href="https://twitter.com/MJairosi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MJairosi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Wamagaisa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wamagaisa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PedzisaiRuhanya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PedzisaiRuhanya</a>
— Elias Mambo/Zim Morning Post 🇿🇼🇲🇼 (@elias_mambo) <a href="https://twitter.com/elias_mambo/status/956793547075870720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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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) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wamagaisa/status/956843832372613121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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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 &amp; it was a place of academic excellence. But this scandal has caused untold damage to its standing.
— Alex T Magaisa 🇿🇼 (@Wamagaisa) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wamagaisa/status/956844641231482880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Great investigative work by <a href="https://twitter.com/iAmKudaMaynard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iAmKudaMaynard</a> on Fugunde's fraudulent PhD. Academic fraud must never be tolerated<a href="https://t.co/IL9XlUE26R">https://t.co/IL9XlUE26R</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfJNMoyo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProfJNMoyo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_naka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ali_naka</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Wamagaisa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wamagaisa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mpofu_ben?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mpofu_ben</a> <a href="https://t.co/NXwacfNFJc">pic.twitter.com/NXwacfNFJc</a>
— mmatigari (@matigary) <a href="https://twitter.com/matigary/status/956795872511168513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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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) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaberstianZW/status/956844989023182849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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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) <a href="https://twitter.com/CSChiwanza/status/956764478854565888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Details keep coming out about Zimbabwe’s former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s thesis which has been “missing”… <a href="https://twitter.com/joeblackzw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@joeblackzw</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xbjb0uqUvF">pic.twitter.com/Xbjb0uqUvF</a>
— Columbus S. Mavhunga (@CocoinZim) <a href="https://twitter.com/CocoinZim/status/956610555367886850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Surely if <a href="https://twitter.com/edmnangagwa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@edmnangagwa</a> is serious about tackling rot, heads must roll at the University of Zimbabwe. UZ is a prestigious institution whose legacy &amp; credibility must be defended.
— Majaira Jairosi (@MJairosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/MJairosi/status/956836248156540928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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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 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HandeiTione?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HandeiTione</a> <a href="https://t.co/LYMzXhagfe">pic.twitter.com/LYMzXhagfe</a>
— Rufaz–Jerera❤King❤ (@Mavhure) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mavhure/status/956814489718009856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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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 <a href="https://t.co/ofKwb8O8r2">pic.twitter.com/ofKwb8O8r2</a>
— Logan Chasi (@loganchasi) <a href="https://twitter.com/loganchasi/status/956837353284423680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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https://twitter.com/OpenSpaceZW/status/956553607922573313
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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 &amp; arrested. After that the government and the UZ itself should unreservedly apologize to the nation.
— My Zimbabwe News (@myzimbabwenews) <a href="https://twitter.com/myzimbabwenews/status/956851412893405185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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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) <a href="https://twitter.com/lashiasn/status/956804196069715968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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https://twitter.com/LobengulaTm/status/956492046805676032

Pindula News

How Zimbabweans Reacted To Grace Mugabe's PhD Thesis

Chairperson of the Taskforce on Transformation of Higher Education for Industrialisation and Modernisation, Professor Levi Nyagura, who is also the University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor, said universities have introduced 15 new degrees as part of revamping the academic programmes and practices in order to address the national development aspirations.
The new programmes that have been introduced to date include:
<ul>
<li> Aeronautical Engineering</li>
<li>Optometry</li>
<li>Forensic Science</li>
<li>Renewable Energy</li>
<li>Exploration Geophysics</li>
<li>Applied Biotechnology</li>
<li>Plant Breeding and Biotechnology</li>
<li>Livestock Production and Value Addition</li>
<li>Food Processing Systems and Technology</li>
<li>Agricultural Mechanisation Systems and Management</li>
<li>Geographical Information Science and Earth Observation</li>
<li>Meteorology and Climate Science</li>
<li>Otorhinolaryngology</li>
<li>Orthodontics</li>
<li>Culture and Heritage Studies</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/15-new-degrees-at-varsities/">Chronicle</a>

15 new university degrees introduced

The Weekend Post has alleged that MiMinister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Walter_Mzembi" target="_blank">Walter Mzembi</a> has dubious academic qualifications. The Weekend Post alleges that Mzembi calls himself an engineer despite the fact that he only has a diploma. He is also alleged to be failing to pay for a Mexican honorary degree in management.
An excerpt of the article reads:
<blockquote>According to information at hand, Mzembi — who has also been calling himself an engineer despite carrying a diploma — has allegedly fallen short on his promises to wire cash or money for an honorary degree under a deal facilitated by controversial professor Lovemore Mbigi
In the meantime, a recent political resume seen by this paper shows that the controversial politician — fingered in the destabilisation of RioZim-owned gold miner Renco in recent times — has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the same Mexican university.
The interesting paper, also extolling the 49-year-old minister’s working life, achievements and tourism awards, shows that Mzembi has a Zambian technologist diploma, which has earned him “engineer-ship” status for years.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.weekendpost.co.zw/articles/2013/07/08/mzembis-dodgy-degrees">Weekend Post</a>

Minister Walter Mzembi alleged to have "dodgy degrees"

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Jonathan Moyo says that the country’s universities are producing degrees which are largely irrelevant to our society. Moyo claimed that Zimbabwe universities have produced only 1 889 technologists since 1980 and most of these have left the country for greener pastures. He said the technologists are needed to head the country;s industrialisation process.
Addressing students at Midlands State University on the role of science, technology, engineering and mathematics recently Moyo said:
<blockquote>Now, most of these people who attained first degrees were in the fields of arts, commercials and social sciences. Most of these degrees are irrelevant in our society. That is why there is a very high unemployment rate.
We have produced a paltry 1 889 technologists in the country since 1980, and most of these people left the country.</blockquote>
The Minister also called for universities to introduce more science and technology courses saying:
<blockquote>The country is moving towards industrialisation and science and technical programmes and courses are more relevant in our society. We want people who can proffer solutions to the challenges our communities are facing</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/technologists-deficit-hurts-zim-minister/">Herald</a>

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