Academic wants 30 more degrees

Takawira Photovet Dapi

WESTVIEW Clinics boss, Dr Johannes Marisa, and his elder brother, Clever, say they will not stop studying, as long as they are still alive.

The brothers were recently conferred with PhDs in Business Administration by the African Leadership Institute. They said they were inspired by an Indian academic Professor VN Parthiban, who attained several degrees, at the age of 55.

They graduated alongside Dr Langton Mabhanga and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Mozambique, Dr Victor Matemadanda.

“Education is endless until you die,” said Dr Clever Marisa.

“There is a certain Indian academic who inspired us so much when he attained many degrees aged 55 years.

“So, as the Marisa brothers, we sat down and agreed that if a person, who was created by God like us, did it, why can we not do it too?

“We kept on inspiring each other because education is endless, as you keep on learning many new things, until you pass away.

“We are still doing another PhD in Education with the Zimbabwe Open University with my younger brother, Dr Johannes Marisa, and we are possibly graduating next year.

“Our elder brother is finishing his PhD degree with the Midlands State University, so we are not stopping.

“We just thank our wives, children and educators for supporting us.

“If God allows me to live for the next 20 years, I am targeting 30 more degrees. 

“But, if God again blesses me with 100 years on earth, I must be having 60 degrees by that time,” he said.

Dr Johannes Marisa said having a degree is no longer news.

“I have academically achieved many things and I am still targeting more.  The youths must go to school no matter where they are,” said Dr Johannes Marisa

Dr Matemadanda said: “I am not stopping provided I am still alive. 

“I am doing an MSc in Development Studies and I am already in the second semester, so I do not see an end to the educational process.

“To the youths, there are no two ways of bettering your lives. 

“If old people like me are still going to school, then the youths should not wait to be told to go to school,” he said