Students protest Grace Mugabe’s PhD, varsity shuts down

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has been forced to suspend examinations after students demonstrated over the PhD awarded three years ago to former First Lady Grace Mugabe.

The students not only demanded an explanation from the  vice-chancellor Levi Nyagura, but also wanted the degree annulled.

According to Zimbabwe’s Newsday, the university  came under intense criticism following Grace’s graduation in 2014 amid claims that the university had been coerced to award her the degree by President Robert Mugabe.


The university has kept her thesis a closely-guarded secret, the newspaper reported.

In a notice to students, authorities said the examinations had been deferred to take place between  January 8 to 24, 2018.

Grace was awarded a PhD in sociology three months after enrolment in what critics said was a “jealousy” move to equal then Vice-President Joice Mujuru who was also capped at the same time with her.

Since Mugabe’s fall on 21 November, the whereabouts of Grace has become a matter of conjectures.