Mugabe named 'scholar of the century'
The African Council for Distance Education named Robert Mugabe scholar of the century.
HARARE - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has just been named scholar of the century by the African Council for Distance Education.
Mugabe has a string of honorary degrees to his name.
His wife, Grace, was recently granted a doctorate despite only reportedly spending a few months at varsity.
Grace was awarded a PhD from the University of Zimbabwe in September but there's been much speculation the degree was given hastily and fraudulently.
Zimbabwe's Higher Education Minister, Olivia Muchena, claims there's no recorded leader in world history who's scaled such academic heights.
Muchena was speaking at a ceremony yesterday to present Mugabe with the scholar of the century award.
State ZBC television said the 90-year-old leader hadn't actually finished his Master's Degree in education but he did have seven other degrees.
Few people doubt Mugabe's academic prowess, though his opponents and students in Zimbabwe are still not entirely convinced by his wife's PhD.
Yesterday, Zimbabwe's information minister criticised reports claiming the leader graded his wife's PhD thesis.
Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said claims that the Zimbabwean president had a hand in awarding Grace's degree are preposterous.
He told the official _Herald _newspaper that Mugabe was merely commenting on her draft thesis.
Outgoing head of the Zanu-PF Women's League Oppah Muchinguri told a rally earlier this week that the first lady had spent sleepless nights working on her PhD while Mugabe marked it.
