The summit of propaganda and a gargantuan appetite for misleading the masses.Shame on this type of journalism.

By
Abhad Makumbi

THE Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) is planning to unleash 11 days of terror in Harare’s high density suburbs over the just-ended harmonised elections outcome, The Patriot can exclusively reveal.

Planning the terror on WhatsApp groups, ZINASU leaders and former leaders have called on all their members to denounce the election results, cause disturbances, inflict malicious damage to property and commit arson.
Part of the strategy is to take their fight to Harare’s high density suburbs as the Central Business District (CBD) demonstrations are proving futile.
The grouping, as we gathered, will be organized in a five-to-seven-man team in each high density suburb.

The covert operation is to call for ‘peaceful demonstrations’, motivate the crowds to join so that they present a ‘petition’ to have Nelson Chamisa recognised as the one who won the election.

Once they have the numbers, they then divert from the peaceful demonstrations and instead cause mayhem, malicious damage to property and commit arson.
The ultimate goal is to have Zimbabwe on the international community’s agenda and have the election results nullified.

Leaders fingered in the planning include ZINASU president Archbold Elias Madida, national co-ordinator Samuel Gwenzi, secretary-general Ashley Pfunye, programmes officer Gift Ostallos Siziba, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly national chairperson Happymore Chidziva, aka Cde Bvondo, Job Sikhala and the ‘Mupandawana boys’, among others.

Earlier this year, Pfunye threatened to unleash terror at universities and close university campuses this year to force a win for MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa.

NGOs, such as Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC), are alleged to be backing ZINASU’s strategy as they hope the violent disturbances will resurrect their relevance for funding purposes.

Youths have been advised to provoke security agents, get beaten and arrested in order to claim to the international community that there is abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe.
“The strategy is not to accept the results,” reads a message from one of the strategists in one of their WhatsApp group platforms.

The student organisations’ spokesperson,  Cde Treasure Basopo, days before the elections, said:
“If reforms are not implemented, we cannot be hoodwinked into a sham, bogus and illegitimate process.
If we are convinced that the election is not procedural, we will declare Zimbabwe a failed and ungovernable state, we will declare this nation a war-zone and battle ground to restore constitutional legacy, for ZEC is proving to be defiant and arrogant, and is convinced not to want and implement existing laws.
We, however, encourage all students and youth to go and vote, but when the clarion call of defence has been raised, let’s all do so in the interests of nation building and self-cleansing from despotism.”

To those not in the know, it is crucial to note that ZINASU is merely implementing stage six of the ‘Milosevic Treatment’.
According to Stephen Gowans, a Canadian-based writer, the US developed a formula in the form of steps to be taken when executing regime change, later dubbed, the Milosevic Treatment.
The Milosevic Treatment
The programme the US Department of State prescribed to rid Zimbabwe of ZANU PF had been used successfully to oust Yugoslavia’s President Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

The basis of the programme is to pressure the civilian population, through a programme of bombing, sanctions or military threat, galvanising the population to rise up against its Government and the proximal cause of its discomfort.
Because the Milosevic Treatment is typically deployed against the leaders of revolutionary societies, the opposition can be thought of as a counter-revolutionary vanguard. The vanguard has two components: A formal political opposition whose job it is to contest elections and cry foul when it doesn’t win as well as underground grassroots movement mandated to carry out extra-judicial agitation and to take to the streets in planned ‘spontaneous’ uprisings, using allegations of electoral fraud as a pretext for pursuing insurrectionary politics.
ZINASU is being used as an underground grassroots movement.

Integral to the Milosevic Treatment is accusing the Government of electoral fraud to justify a transition from electoral to insurrectionary politics.
The accusations build-up as the day of the vote approaches, until, by sheer repetition, they are accepted as a matter of indisputable truth.

If the opposition loses the election, the vote is confirmed to be illegitimate, as all the pre-election warnings predicted it would be, unleashing a torrent of people onto the streets to demand the Government step down.
This then becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy and reads like the MDC Alliance script in the past few weeks.
There has been serious attempts to implement the final stages of the Milosevic Treatment in Zimbabwe as cited below:
Stage 4: The opposition party, civil society and the local media, in advance, allege that the election will be rigged.
Stage 5: Before the election results are announced, the opposition and ‘independent’ election monitors announce an opposition victory.
Stage 6: If the official results are not in the opposition’s favour, denounce the vote as fraudulent and encourage people to take the battle into the streets.
Stage 7: In the West, public opinion is mobilised by the media, focusing exclusively on what the opposition and civil society say. The view of the governing party is completely shut out.
Currently, the Zimbabwean Milosevic Treatment is on Stage 6, encouraging people to take the battle into the streets.
This is not the first time violent demonstrations, through student bodies, are being organised.
Last year, at the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust conference, a plan to revive faltering student activism in the country, through pouring in hefty amounts of money to tertiary institution learners, was hatched.
According to the plan, endorsed by principal regime change donors, ‘brave’ students were identified and recruited mainly from two anti-Zimbabwe organisations, ZINASU and its subsidiary, the Student Solidarity Trust (SST), to take the Government of Zimbabwe ‘head on’ through massive demonstrations.
The students were promised US$500 each if detained and a staggering
US$5 000 if they stood trial.
This is not surprising.
ZINASU is a well-oiled regime change machine.
The US, by its own admission, formed ZINASU in 1986 and as is evident, the objective was to destabilise Zimbabwe.
It is therefore understandable why the US Department of State was so excited in its 2007 report on Zimbabwe about their ZINASU project to the extent of coming out of the closet claiming credit for the formation of the student body.
In a November 16 2007 letter accompanying the US Department of State Zimbabwe 2007 Performance Report, US Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee wrote that Washington was the undisputed leader in nurturing anti-Government civil society organisations in Zimbabwe, operating through a CIA-interlocked organisation led by former New York investment banker and Michael Milken right-hand man, Peter Ackerman.
According to the US Department of State: “Youth organisations like ZINASU and Youth Initiatives for Democracy in Zimbabwe (YIDEZ) are two good examples of… (civil society organisations that were) nurtured through US (State Department) funding from an idea to a level where they are able to stand on their own and attract other funders.”
In 2007, Washington gave Freedom House and PACT a total of US$1,8 million to back civil society organisations hostile to the ZANU PF Government, of which ZINASU was a beneficiary.
ZINASU is also funded by a Norwegian organisation NORAD.
A May 2015 report by Nordic Consulting Group titled Students Leading Change: Evaluating the SAIH Support for Zimbabwe and the Norway Campaign of 2009-2014 (Project number: QZA-12/0822-36) confirms funding of ZINASU to promote regime change in Zimbabwe.
In addition, ZINASU is also funded by the Norway-based International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT).
After winning the 2003 Peace Award, ISFiT issued the following statement:
“ZINASU was founded in the late 1980s and is one of the key actors in the fight against President (former) Robert Mugabe’s oppressive regime.
Replacing his regime with a democratically elected Government is one of their major visions.”
In the 2002 presidential election, ZINASU mobilised students to participate as ‘election observers’ under the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), a project funded by the US Government through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
On the eve of the July 31 2013 harmonised elections, ZINASU labelled ZANU PF ‘an enemy beyond conciliation’.
The capture of ZINASU
ZINASU is one of the groups that took part in the so-called Working People’s Convention (WPC) that gave birth to the MDC on September 11 1999.
ZINASU ceremonially became a wing of the MDC and this resulted in the ascendency of some student leaders like Learnmore Jongwe, Job Sikhala, Tafadzwa Musekiwa, Charlton Hwende and Nelson Chamisa, among others, into senior positions of the new party.
It meant MDC’s main wing dictated how the student body operated and engaged the establishment.
The US’ role in moulding and directing the operations of the student grouping is evident in the involvement of key regime agents like the late John Makumbe, Nigel Johnson and Reginald Matchaba-Hove, among others, as advisors.
ZINASU has also produced the likes of CiZC director Philani Zamchiya and Promise Mkwananzi, the spokesperson of the regime change outfit #Tajamuka/Sesijikile campaign.
Mkwananzi was the MDC-T Youth Assembly secretary before he was expelled for calling for the leader’s resignation in April 2014, according to his internet profile.

Other ZINASU civil society activists are Nixon Nyikadzino (National Constitutional Assembly and Crisis in Zimbabwe South Africa chapter), Philip Pasirayi (CiZC), Pedzisai Ruhanya (formerly with CiZC and now with Zimbabwe Democracy Institute), Gabriel Shumba (Zimbabwe Exiles Forum) and Mfundo Mlilo (executive director of the Combined Harare Residents Association, an amalgamation of residents’ associations in the capital city).
No doubt Americans formed ZINASU in order to effect regime change in Zimbabwe by any means necessary and it is still their mission to date despite the fact that there is now a new dispensation.
Zimbabweans, especially the security sector must take heed.

Concern over Zimbabwean elections.


Opposition activists and political analysts have raised concern over the possibility of the ruling Zanu PF gaining two thirds majority in parliament, insisting that MDC Alliance candidate Nelson Chamisa won the popular vote ahead of Emmerson Mnangagwa.In an interview with Dr Victor Chimhutu leader of Zimbabwe Yadzoka, a local democracy pressure group said Zanu PF domination in parliament without the support of the majority spells a bleak future for the country.

"It's a bleak future, ZANU-PF will remain unsupported by the majority of the people. When the majority of citizens does not have faith and trust in a system, there is no way the country can progress socially or economically. Zimbabwe's main problem is a confidence crisis & these fictitious election results does not alley such fears," added Chimhutu.

"It's a clear attempt by ZEC to subvert the will of the people. Unreasonably inflated figures from so called ZANU-PF strongholds are worrying against the backdrop that in 21% of polling stations mostly in those areas results were not posted as required by the law. These V11 forms are either missing or were burnt. Undesignated polling stations were also unearthed in the process. More worrying is the delay in announcing the popular vote where Chamisa thumped Mnangagwa," added Chimhutu.

The President of Economics Students Association of Zimbabwe also a University of Zimbabwe student leader and ZINASU activist Treasure Basopo is also concerned about the future of students after studies.

"We as students, we are not living on our own island, we are concerned and bona-fide citizens of the Republic of Zimbabwe and we can not legitimize the illegitimate.Issues of constitutional ism, rule of law, democracy and good governance are the ones we can self sacrifice and die in defense of."If reforms are not implemented, we can not be hoodwinked into a sham, bogus and illegitimate process. If we are convinced that the election is not procedural, we will declare Zimbabwe a failed and ungovernable state, we will declare this nation a war zone and battle ground to restore constitutional legacy, for ZEC is proving to be defiant and arrogant, and is convinced not to want and implement existing laws"

"We however encourage al students and youth to go and vote, but when the clarion call of defense has been raised, lets all do so in the interests of nation building and self cleansing from despotism," said Basopo.

The country held its harmonized election last month and the presidential results are yet to be announced.

Article by Shorai Murwira
shoraimurwira@gmail.com

The Chamisa HARD TALK Interview.

''With many sovereign states, with no system of law enforceable among them, with each state judging its grievances and ambitions according to the dictates of its own reason or desire - conflict, sometimes leading to war, is bound to occur." -Kenneth Waltz Wale Millers

The above quotable quote springs in the context of international politics serried or juxtaposition-ed to the recently biased interview conducted by Stephen Sackur, the popular presenter on current affairs BBC World News Hard Talk .In the context of International politics, states do act as individuals, by their very nature they are what Thomas Hobbes the great philosopher referred to as " Life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short".
We have the case of a megalomaniac nation playing dirty politics in the best interests of its own selfish and obviously extravagant ends at the expense of the natives or citizens of Zimbabwe.We smell a rat from the direction of the Britain, there seem to be some vested interests by the stated nation, interests to influence the outcome of the impending elections in favor of the Zanu Pf government which they helped create by means they best know.

The media stance taken by Britons as a derivative of the visit by the MDC leadership speaks volumes if not tonnes of their unquenchable thirst to blackmail, bladder, to paint a gory and sordid picture of the government in waiting.The freedom of media and expression is a necessary and defining pillar of democracy but when it is presented in the form and formulae of a character assassination crusade meant to defile and contaminate the image and standing of a whole movement and government in waiting, it tastes sour and looks imaginary.

The media stance taken by Britons as a derivative of the visit by the MDC leadership speaks volumes if not tonnes of their unquenchable thirst to blackmail, bladder, to paint a gory and sordid picture of the government in waiting.The freedom of media and expression is a necessary and defining pillar of democracy but when it is presented in the form and formula of a character assassination crusade meant to defile and contaminate the image and standing of a whole movement and government in waiting, it tastes sour and looks imaginary. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-

Cde Treasure Basopo
The Students Commissar.

MASHAKADA THINK TANK
------------------------------------------
ZANU PF appears to have been able to partially sort out the mess that it created during the land reform program. Definitely Command Agriculture has restored food security after almost 17 years of maize imports. However, 2 critical areas of Agrarian reforms remain and these are: the speedy compensation of former white commercial farmers and the issue of a proper land tenure system that can restore the land market and strenthen the national balance sheet. This is relation to the 17 million hectares acauired out the total of 40 million hectares which is the total country land stock.
On Manufacturing the key is to introduce export led growth by investing in agro-processing as compared to general industrialization where it will take time to gain competitiveness. Linked to this strategy will be the rescuscitation of the engineering , iron and steel steel subsector which has always been inextricably linked to Agriculture. In other words re-industrialization ought to be propelled by Agriculture,Agro-processing and engineering. In regard to Mining the key issues are transparency and value addition. This will unlock the full potential of Mining contribution to employment, exports and the fiscus. Tourism has always been a sector of low hanging fruits. It is affected by confidence and personal security issues. It is elastic to the country brand and tourism products that the country can show case. Zimbabwe's tourism facilities are out moded and out dated. Much needs to be done to spruce up everything including our infrastructure. Unfortunately there are no quick fixes. No govt can address all these structural issues in 7 months. For now I think the gvt should focus on the price hikes and the cash shortages because the 2 are connected. The 100 day program and its success will be measured on the basis of these 2. Indigenization reforms are good but serious investors may elect to wait for electionr fearing revisionism.

Off Politics, Chiefs told.

Article by Shorai Murwira 263 Chatt

Movement for Democratic Change has dismissed remarks by chiefs from Mashonaland East province that they will not allow someone who was a toddler during the liberation struggle to be President of Zimbabwe saying they back off political fights and respect the constitution.

Speaking during a recent Zanu PF meeting in Mashonaland East, Chief Musarurwa said they will not allow anyone who did not fight in the war of liberation to rule Zimbabwe. Said Chief Musarurwa

In an interview with 263Chat, MDC-T Presidential Spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka urged chiefs not to involve themselves in national politics or campaign for anyone saying it is against the dictates of the constitution.
“That is fundamentally wrong, chiefs should not be involved into these this or campaign for anyone, that is the constitution says,” said Tamborinyoka.
Tamborinyoka added that Zimbabweans have a problem of not following the requirements of the constitution, giving an example of military personnel who reportedly constitute 15 percent of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission board.
“We have a problem in this country, people do not follow the constitution, on the ZEC issue, soldiers should stay in the barracks that is their place not where they are now,” he said.

Treasure Basopo, a Zimbabwe University student leader also condemned chiefs’ remarks which he said do not have a place in an electoral democracy.
“Well, those utterances by chiefs are highly predictable they have no space in an electoral democracy where constitutional ism and the rule of law are the guiding doctrines to the full blooming of our young democracy. Those utterances leaves everything to be desired on war verterans who attempt and are threatening to diminish, dismiss and depreciate the sacrosanctness of the people`s voice which the president ED Mnangagwa referred to as the voice of God.

“Gerontological and ageism have no space in conducive environment for democracy, its for the people to decide and make their choice, as per their desires, any attempt to liquidate the people`s choice and desire is treasonous, its also a gross act of insubordination and irresponsibility of the highest order by anyone( the chief who said so) who uttered those word of intolerance and intimidation to electoral outcome,” said Basopo.

“The chief who said that is debilitating negative energy on the efforts by the president and cabinet to fight for a free and fair election and subsequently is scaring away investors, that should be rebuked,” added Bassopo.

Chief Musarurwa’s remarks were targeted at MDC-T Acting President, Nelson Chamisa who was recently endorsed to take over the reigns of the labor backed movement following the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.
Chamisa is likely to represent the MDC-Alliance and will battle it out against the Zanu PF candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 2018 Presidential election.

Article by Shorai Murwira, a journalist based in Harare.

The indefinite suspension of Nyagura !!! thank you President Mnangagwa.


On a chilly morning, in the northern suburbs of Harare in Mt Pleasant, I woke up to some shockingly good news of the suspension of University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor (VC) Levi Nyagura. Not as a gesture of an evil celebration of the fall of a man, but the birth and restoration of constitutionalism, administrative justice and rule of law in the body politic.

Grace Mugabe being conferred a controversial doctorate by her husband Mr Mugabe during a graduation ceremony at UZ

Following the unprecedented, 2017 November 20 mass students’ demonstration against both Nyagura and Mugabe, the petitioning to Zimbabwe Anti Corruption by UZ sociology department, the letter by Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) to authorities, the handing of a letter to President Mnangagwa`s office by myself and various contributions from students, lecturers and intellectuals , WE as students, would like to thank ZACC, President Mnangagwa, Vice President Chiwenga and the entire cabinet for efforts to listen to the plight of students from the University of Zimbabwe by disassociating UZ from the person of Nyagura who had causes serious levels of despondency and fall of academic standards due to his propensity for nepotism, corruption and prebendalism.

To Professor Amon Murwira, we also welcome you to the new post with wide open arms in the new office due to your fetish and passion to restore sanity among universities evidenced by the peeling off of all incompetent staff members as you have demonstrated by starting with the man in question.

Zimbabwean education system has been on stake due to visible, open and clear unprofessional contact in the academic system, the case of UZ and Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC). The impacts of compromising the sacrosanctness of academic legitimacy are far reaching and do not affect the old, but the young and the future for confidence and trust is corroded at an international level thereby making our education uncompetitive. The rule of law equally will be white elephants in an event where a mere Vice Chancellor can dilly dally, riff raff or shilly sh-ally with national laws and get away with it.

Despite these good strides, we also wish to have the government more tolerant to the students` voice and give them space to demonstrate and petition as enshrined in the national constitution, the events at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) leave a lot to be desired, we abhore violence on students and an intolerant police force, we wish to be heard!!!

The struggle continues, victoria ascete`, A luta` continua

The Students` Commissar

Cde Treasure Basopo

Zimbabwe National Students Union.

University students remind Munangagwa.

Cde Basopo adressing UZ students during Mugabe must go demonstration.Ft left, Chrispen Mahachi, centre Cde Basopo, right Cde Mvurume

The University of Zimbabwe students' body and the entire students community around the country wish to make a follow up with the newly appointed President Emmerson Dambudzo  Munangagwa and his government on the issue of a scandalous and bogus degree donated to Grace Mugabe by G40 cabal through their proxy, University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura.

This issue never come  as a surprise or a virgin concern but a continuation of the November 20 mass students' demonstration which was staged by University of Zimbabwe students with the blessings of all Zimbabweans.

As University of Zimbabwe students we find this as a nett sabotage and aggravated relegation of the students concerns.Over 8000 students flooded the streets on the above stated date,but between then and now we have not heard a single voice from vice chancellor Levi Nyagura or any government official hinting on what probably could have really happened to result in such administrative injustice.

We have learnt with concern that this is probably lack of political will since abundant  powers are vested within the President of the state E.D Munangagwa through the University of Zimbabwe Act [Chapter 25:16], which is pursuent to the Royal Charter of the 11th February 1955 interms of which the University was constituted and founded; and to provide for matters incidential to or connected with the foregoing as is happening in this incident.

Interms of section 7 (2)(b),of the above stated Act,the President of Zimbabwe shall be the chancellor of the University and has ubundant and unrestrained powers to withdraw or restore degrees,diplomas,distinctions or awards, and it only pains the hearts of the students' constituency to learn that the president has not envoked his powers to restore legacy to the entire University Community.

The University Vice Chancellor who interms of this ACT is the chief academic, administrative and disciplinary officer of the University and has the same vast powers of correcting his mess,unfortunately he has done nothing except remaining pompous,arrogant and unrefined to listen to the concerns of thousands who pronged the streets demonstrating against his actions.

The University Council interms of section 13(1)(b)  has vast powers of withdrawing or restoring degrees including Grace Mugabe's degree but these powers have not been used so far to satisfy the public's demand.We have also learnt that university lecturers from the department of sociology have repudiated this degree as a counterfeit and bond degree but your silence boggles the mind Cde President.

We appeal to your high and esteemed office to deal with this issue as a matter of urgency for justice delayed is justice denied.As the holder of the most powerful office on the  land it only helps society if you make use of your abundant powers to maintain the good spirit of constitutionalism and rule of law by withdrawing this illegitimate and imaginary degree awarded to Grace Goreraza Marufu Mugabe undeservedly and if possible proceeding to withdraw the Vice Chancellor or to redeploy him as a farmer before we further expose his shenanigans.

Asante Sana!
A luta continua!

Students' Commissar

Cde Basopo Basopo

*UZ STUDENTS DEMO FINAL NAIL TO MUGABE'S COFFIN*

The people of Zimbabwe will always remember this day 21 November 2017 since it is the day some will call independence from 37 years of oppression,corruption,suppression,looting and serious human rights violation by one Robert Gabriel Mugabe.It is through the military intervention to rescitate the deteriorating economic political and social crisis which was being sabotaged by Mugabe's most trusted allies *The G40* comprised of Mugabe's extravagant cum immoral wife Grace Mugabe ,Professor Jonathan Moyo,Saviour Kasukuwere,Kudzanai Chipanga and Ignatius Chombo

In solidarity with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces the people of Zimbabwe as one united and protested on the 18th of November and their efforts were demoralised by the speech made by Mugabe on 19th November 2017 in which he claimed to be still the legitimate President of Zimbabwe and it because of that speech that the University of Zimbabwe students made the final push and banged the final nail to the coffin in their demonstration on the day their exams were duped to start .The protest and demonstration which was led by various students activists and bright politicians included the University of Zimbabwe *Secretary General Tafadzwa Ponela ,Secretary for Legal Affairs Max Mhandu ,former University of Zimbabwe Secretray General Kudakwashe Mahachi,ZICOSU Director of Students Samuel Mvurume,YARDSC President and law student Anesu Chirenje ,Economics student Treasure Basopo,Law students Kelvin Kabaya,Political Science student and writer Fanuel Kaseke Mongie Ngwenya ,Tafadzwa Marufu and Shadreck Masike* and all University of Zimbabwe students who participated. It was at this moment that despite the efforts of Robert Mugabe to be defiant and to resist the calls of the people he had no option but tender his resignation after seeing the anger and anxiety within the students which was now a threat to his security and legacy
In respect to that,students views showed the end of an Mugabe's era and when Mahachi was interviewed he clearly postulated that if Mugabe doesn't resign that he should be ready to see his legacy and fate being finalised by the students and in the same vein Anesu Chirenje clearly expressed it that "if Mugabe was voted by the people in 2013 then he should respect the same will of those people who are now marching against him in their millions and if he doesn't respect that he should be brought to book because he is now becoming a constitutional delinquent" .Students leaders like Kaseke Fanuel and Treasure Basopo expressed similar sentiments and alluded that the old man should go and rest and if he doesn't the students are ready to have the whole week in the streets .It was because of the calls of the students  who were in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,the war veterans,the population of Zimbabwe and all groups that banged the final nail to the coffin

This is the end of Mugabe's error a man who troubled Zimbabwe for 37 years

UZ Sociology Dept Disowns Grace’s PhD, UZ Lecturers Face Arrest from ZACC

Posted 8 mins ago by Maveriq



Lecturers from the Department of Sociology at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) are reported to have filed a petition with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the awarding of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree to former first lady Grace Mugabe. Former president Robert Mugabe’s wife was awarded the PhD from the UZ’s Faculty of Social Studies Department of Sociology in 2014. However, the degree attracted intense criticism and speculation after claims that Grace did not defend her thesis, let alone write one and that she did not take the required period of time to complete it.

Now the lecturers in the Sociology Department are reported to have disavowed any knowledge of Grace fulfilling any of the requirements for completing the degree. Zacc is looking into the matter, and the weekly newspaper, the Zimbabwe Independent, reports that UZ vice-chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura and UZ lecturer Professor Claude Mararike face arrest over allegations of abuse of office for fraudulently conferring the degree on Grace.

Grace was awarded the degree when her husband, former president Robert Mugabe was the Chancellor of all state universities while current Minister of Environment, Water and Climate and Zanu-PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri was the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education.

Part of the Petition submitted to ZACC by the lecturers from Department of Sociology reads:

This was a shock to many members of the department as most members ‘never (saw) or heard about the proposal, progress reports, thesis examiners and outcome’ of such study by the candidate. In fact, all of the departmental board members ‘heard about the graduation in the media and saw the pictures on the university calendar the following year

In addition, at least the two chairpersons who were the incumbents of office during the time when the candidate should have registered and worked on the PhD also ‘know nothing about it’.

…The awarding of the degree has therefore not gone through processes that other candidates are subjected to which makes the awarding of the degree suspicious.

Grace’s thesis is yet to be released into the public domain. However, that of former Vice President Joice Mujuru and those of other candidates who graduated on the same day with the former first lady are now publicly available. In November last year, students from the University of Zimbabwe went on strike demanding that Grace Mugabe’s degree should be recalled. The students also demanded the resignation of then-President Robert Mugabe.

Contacted for comments,student leader Treasure Basopo said "The move by ZACC has been a much awaited golden opportunity towards the restoration of integrity and legacy for the once illustrious University and sacrosanct education system in Zimbabwe,Nyagura must go in the same fashion as his boss Robert" The students only returned to their classes after then Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga urged them to continue with their education.