Dexter Nduna Graduation Scandal

Dexter Nduna, former Zanu PF Chegutu West MP and current chair for resource mobilisation and revenue generation in the party’s central committee, did not graduate with a law degree from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) on Friday as he purports.

Nduna failed some of his law degree modules and demanded remarking, claiming he was being targeted maliciously due to his political affiliation.

That did not succeed.

Because of that, he did not get any results transcript showing that he completed and passed his modules, and a got certificate on graduation day like others who genuinely passed.

However, Nduna paid a graduation fee and bought a gown before attending the graduation ceremony to just sit in the crowd, not with his graduating class.

This means he was merely a comical spectator pulling off some stunts to mislead the public.

A UZ Faculty of Law veteran lecturer told The NewsHawks: “It’s common cause he did not graduate. Paying a graduation fee and wearing a gown during a graduation ceremony does not mean he graduated. Those are just antics, not full academic and graduation processes.

“The fact is he was not on the graduation book, he did not get a transcript of results (he failed some modules) and was not awarded a certificate at the graduation ceremony.

“This means that he did not graduate like others in his class. We have seen what he posted on social media, but he did not post his results transcript and certificate which would provide concrete proof that he finished his studies, passed and graduated. Anyone can buy and wear a gown, and then sit next to those graduating without him or her actually graduating. Those are just antics.

“The university will only get concerned and act if he posts a fake transcript and certificate. As it is, there is no real issue because it’s clear he didn’t graduate.”

Nduna failed some law modules and demanded a remarking claiming he was maliciously being targeted for his political affiliation.

However, his politicisation of exams rang hollow as fellow Zanu PF member, Buhera West legislator Tafadzwa Mugwadi, a former party information and publicity director, graduated with a law degree on Friday.

The Nduna fiasco came as seven students who failed in the Faculty of Veterinary Science graduated after their marks were altered by their lecturers at the behest of the university’s academic leaders.

UZ has been rocked by some scandals and problems such back door enrollments, having students who pay people to study for them, issuing of fake PhD degrees, nepotism and corruption.

The university, Zimbabwe’s citadel of higher education and learning, is now lowly ranked in Africa due to lack of resources, quality research and citations, poor learning environment, perennial underfunding, brain drain and corruption, among other things.