adminHarare Bureau
President Robert Mugabe yesterday capped 2 119 graduates at Zimbabwe Open University with national hero and educationist Dr Sikhanyiso “Duke” Ndlovu being posthumously conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree in Pedagogy of Distance Learning.
Professor Hope Cynthia Sadza and Mr Sarai Hungwe also received Honorary Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Gender and Academic Leadership, and Philosophy in Agriculture Leadership respectively. Prof Sadza is the founder and Vice-Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa while Mr Hungwe is a founding member of various farmer interest groups.
Of the 2 119 graduates, five received doctorates, 226 received Masters degrees in various fields, 1 718 received undergraduate degrees while 167 received diplomas.
Among them was a visually-impaired teacher from Masvingo — Mr William Mapfumo — who scooped the Best Student Prize in English and Communication. Vice-Chancellor Professor Primrose Kurasha credited the university’s success to President Mugabe’s visionary leadership. Prof Kurasha said Zou is partnering various learning institutions in Sadc and offering degrees to over 1 000 students regionwide. Present at the event were several senior Government officials among them Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Deputy Minister Dr Godfrey Gandawa.
Bongani Ndlovu