Online Reporter
Online Writer
THE Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) has issued a strong warning against the proliferation of unregistered institutions conferring fraudulent degrees, including honorary PhDs.
In a press statement, ZIMCHE expressed “grave concern” over these illegal activities, which undermine the integrity of the country’s education system and pose “significant risks to the public.”
ZIMCHE confirmed that several unregistered institutions had been identified and issued with closure orders, but some continue to operate illegally. “Unfortunately, some institutions persist in defying the law, continuing to enrol students and issue fraudulent degrees,” the statement read.
A major concern highlighted by ZIMCHE is the misuse of these fake qualifications. “Of particular concern is also the use of these fraudulent qualifications and false titles such as ‘Professor’ or ‘Doctor’ by recipients of these unregistered institutions,” the council said. Some individuals were described as “unsuspecting members of the public who are duped out of their hard-earned money,” while others were said to be “willing accomplices to academic and qualifications fraud.”
As the regulatory authority under the ZIMCHE Act [Chapter 25:27], the council reaffirmed its commitment to “safeguarding the standards, quality, and credibility of Zimbabwe’s higher education system.” It issued a stern warning to unregistered institutions, instructing them to “cease operations immediately, withdraw all fraudulent qualifications, and desist from issuing or conferring any degrees, including purportedly earned and honorary PhDs.”
ZIMCHE also warned individuals using fake qualifications that they “risk legal consequences, including civil and criminal prosecution.”
To combat academic fraud, ZIMCHE has launched investigations and vowed to take “appropriate legal measures” against both unregistered institutions and individuals found complicit. Employers have been urged to verify the authenticity of qualifications before hiring, while students and the public have been advised to check an institution’s accreditation with ZIMCHE before enrolling.
“Members of the public should always be on the lookout for unregistered institutions that, in some cases, frequently change their locations to evade detection,” the statement warned. Some of these institutions are reportedly run by foreigners or claim affiliation with dubious international universities that lack accreditation in their home countries.
ZIMCHE said it remains “resolute in its mission to uphold the integrity and quality of Zimbabwe’s higher education system” and is intensifying efforts to ensure that only accredited institutions operate within the country.
For further inquiries, the public has been advised to contact ZIMCHE via telephone (+2638677009649), email ([email protected]), or visit their website (www.zimche.ac.zw).
