Nothing special about a PhD: Grace

By Nyasha Chingono

GWERU – First Lady Grace Mugabe on Monday scoffed at critics who have been despising her PhD, saying there was nothing special about holding a doctorate.

Grace was addressing thousands of Zanu PF supporters at the party’s conference centre here.

“I want to challenge other PhD holders to work hard. Hazvishamisiri kuita (There is nothing special about a doctorate) PhD, what you do with it proves your mettle,” Grace said to wild cheers.

Her doctorate degree from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) touched off a storm, with critics saying she should hand back the degree as she did not earn it.

Professor Levi Nyagura, the university’s vice-chancellor, has declined to comment on the doctorate.

“Going to school is one thing, but if you don’t have wisdom it will be useless,” she said.

Despite holding the degree, the first lady struggled to explain Zanu PF’s economic blueprint ZimAsset, accusing Zanu PF leaders of ignorance about the $27 billion economic plan.

“Our leaders are going around reading the document to the people, while there is no progress on the ground. We are wasting time,” she said.

She urged government to restore the adult literacy programme, saying women wanted to follow her example and attain their own PhDs.

Earlier at the rally, outgoing Zanu PF Women’s League boss, Oppah Muchinguri said Grace’s doctorate would give her the capacity to become President Robert Mugabe’s chief adviser.

“She is now the best adviser to the president,” Muchinguri said.

“Other first ladies are now emulating her.

“If you stay with someone with a many degrees like the president, how will you advise if you don’t have a doctorate?”

She continued: “People are saying the PhD was given by the president since he is the chancellor of the university, but there is nothing like that.”

Muchinguri, who is expected to hand over her post to Grace in December, said the first lady’s critics were being used to further divide Zanu PF. The first lady attacked the media, saying they should stop reporting on the issue.

Grace distributed 30 tonnes of maize seed and 10 tonnes of maize meal to supporters.

The first lady also said her husband was being treated like a little child by factional leaders plotting his downfall. She said they will be exposed at the Zanu PF congress in December.

“There are people who claim to love him during the day and plot during the night,” she said. “He is

being treated like a kid. Can you imagine an intelligent man like that,” Grace said.

She warned factional leaders that their end was nigh.

“I want to warn them before we go for congress,” she said.

She alleged that Zanu PF stalwarts were bribing the electorate with cars and money to manipulate the outcome of the electoral congress where she is expected to take over the reigns as the Women’s League boss.

“I believe leaders come from God. I am saying this with regards to factionalism in the party because I know that some are being used from within the party,” she said, claiming that the nonagenarian leader was anointed by God to lead this country.

The first lady said she never thought the 90-year-old leader would still be hanging on to power now.

“I never thought that the president would get to 2014 as head of State because he is 90, but God thought otherwise,” she said.

Grace warned party members leaking Zanu PF secrets to the media, saying they should not wash the party’s dirty linen in public.

“There are some among us who are leaking stories to the media. Let me warn you. We don’t want to blast each other in public because we will give newspapers something to write,” she said. Daily News