First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was on Wednesday conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU).
Mnangagwa’s degree was received by Women’s Affairs Minister Sithembiso Nyoni in her absence.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa presented the doctorate at ZOU’s colourful Wednesday graduation.
According to the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the honorary doctorate is a reward for Mnangagwa’s “hard work” n improving lives of the country’s disadvantaged communities. The Ministry said:
First Lady Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa has been conferred an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) in Development Studies by ZOU in honour of her efforts to improve the standard of living in disadvantaged communities through philanthropic work.
The accolade for her excellency Amai Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa was received on her behalf by Nyoni, Minister of Women Affairs as she is out of the country on other duties.
The former first lady, Grace Mugabe, also received a doctorate from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) in 2014.
However, the conferment of a PhD on Grace resulted in the criminal prosecution of the institution’s Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura for criminal abuse of office.
It was alleged that Nyagura abused his position since Grace did not meet the minimum requirements to study for the degree.| NewZimbabwe.com