Zimpapers Logo

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mugabe yesterday capped 1 554 graduates that attained degrees and diplomas with the Zimbabwe Open University who included 78-year-old traditional leader Chief Mashayamombe who attained a Masters’. Chief Mashayamombe whose name is Ignatious Steven Chiketa from Mhondoro graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Peace, Leadership and Conflict Resolution, alongside Midlands traditional leader, Chief Ngungubane Mkwananzi Zama Nthua, who is also a Senator.

Chief Mashayamombe received a standing ovation as his citation was being read before he walked to the podium to be capped.
President Mugabe who had all along been capping students from his seat, had to leave his chair to give Chief Mashayamombe a handshake and he knelt before he was capped by the President.

President Mugabe also capped posthumously Mr Lee Chinonzura after the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a road accident in Headlands, Manicaland province yesterday morning on his way from Mutare to Harare for the graduation.

Addressing graduates, their relatives and other dignitaries, ZOU vice chancellor Professor Primrose Kurasha said the narrative of yesterday’s graduation ceremony would be incomplete without mentioning the name of Chiketa, whom he said was a special graduand for 2013.

“This man is none other than Chief Mashayamombe, the 78-year-old paramount chief from the Mhondoro communal lands, an outstanding traditional leader who is as much at home with tradition as he is with education,” said Prof Kurasha.

Prof Kurasha wowed the audience when she gave a poetic eulogy of Chief Mashayamombe.

“He who gives the diameter of your knowledge prescribes the circumference of your activity. Mr Chikutsa whose Department gave the honourable chief the diameter of knowledge in Peace Leadership and Conflict Resolution says the circumference of his activities is wide because the chief now, is wide indeed from Peace Transformation to the Psychology of Peace, Tactics of Peace, Conflict Resolution and Development,” said Prof Kurasha.

In an interview soon after his graduation, Chief Mashayamombe said he drew inspiration from President Mugabe.

He said the degree was helping him in his efforts and resolving cases at his traditional court.

“This degree is relevant to my work as a traditional leader. Every case that I hear I try to emphasise on peace before I refer it for trial. The relevance of my degree is on conflict resolution. We go to the root cause and after completing a case I make sure that contesting parties reconcile where the offender ask for forgiveness,” he said.

He urged the Government to provide funds for those traditional leaders who want to enhance their education.
Turning to the event, Prof Kurasha said of the 1 554 graduands, 45 percent were women.

“Open distance learning opens opportunities for women empowerment,” she said.

People in Mozambique, she said, after they heard about open distance learning have since sent undergraduates to register in Manicaland.

Prof Kurasha urged graduands to be exemplary in everything they do, saying there should be a distinction between an  educated  person and one who is not.

“Even though you are educated there is no guarantee that you will get the job related to your degree, but we now assume that whatever you will do because of your education, you will do it better,” she said.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Minister Olivia Muchena, her deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa, secretary in the ministry, Dr Washington Mbizvo and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs responsible for Harare province Miriam Chikukwa also attended the event.