The High Court case where University of Zimbabwe lecturers are seeking to stop the graduation ceremony set for Friday has been referred to judge president Justice Mary Dube for case management, with the outcome set to be announced before close of business today.
The lecturers, who have been on strike since April demanding a salary review, accuse the institution of higher learning of plotting to dish out ‘bogus’ degrees as the graduates hardly attended lectures.
The Association of University Teachers (AUT) wants the graduation programme deferred until students have attended full lectures under qualified personnel.
The lecturers are represented by advocate Thabani Mpofu, instructed by Webster Jiti of Jiti Law Chambers.
“The matter has been referred for case management under Justice Mary Dube, and the outcome will be announced before the end of day,” Jiti said.
AUT president Phillemon Chambaruka argued that allowing the graduation ceremony to proceed would be a travesty of justice as the whole process was marred by irregularities, which include appointment of adjunct lecturers without the consent of the Departmental Board.
In 2014, the US suffered severe reputational damage after awarding a PHD Degree to former First Lady Grace Mugabe under similar circumstances, resulting in the prosecution of then vice-chancellor Levi Nyagura.
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