"The awarding of the PHD to the president's wife is an insult"-: Zinasu's president, Gilbert Mutubuki.(2014)

Zimbabwe's poor education system might be the reason why students called for Grace Mugabe’s doctorate to be withdrawn in 2014.
Zimbabwe's main student body accused president Robert Mugabe of awarding a controversial doctorate of philosophy degree (PHD) to his wife Grace by the country's top university (University of Zimbabwe)

The news about the graduation of Grace Mugabe was not received in a good manner, with critics arguing that the First Lady had no capacity to attain such lofty qualification especially after her poor academic record with a British university was publicised a few years ago.

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) said that, since Mugabe is the chancellor of all Zimbabwe government run universities including the UZ , he capped his wife in August but the awarding of the degree was seen as a corrupt means of buttressing his wife's credentials as she seeks political office - and possibly the presidency when her husband dies.

ZINASU said it was not fighting the person of the First Lady but protecting the credibility of the country's education system.

"We have nothing against the First Lady but what we want is to protect the reputation of our education system so that we will not be underrated by the world in terms of our education," said Mutubuki.

the first lady, Grace Mugabe

 

Students called for Grace's doctorate to be withdrawn if it is established that procedure was not followed or there was manipulation of the process.