ICT Minister Mavetera flounders in attempt to defend dubious PhD qualification

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INFORMATION and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Tatenda Mavetera is facing a barrage of criticism regarding her alleged fabricated academic credentials, including a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD).

The allegations were recently brought to light by “Dug Up,” a platform run by United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean investigative journalist Maynard Manyowa, who exposed the controversial founder and leader of Young Women for ED. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production. Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, erupted early Saturday, with users mercilessly ridiculing Mavetera for what they perceive as a charade, following her attempts to defend herself against claims surrounding a purported PhD award that was revoked by the High Court of Zimbabwe last year.

Mavetera appeared to be all at sea as she struggled to articulate her position on her current PhD studies at Midlands State University (MSU), failing to speak coherently.

One X account, under the name Tawanda Mupindu, challenged Mavetera to address the rumours of her possessing a fake PhD, which Mavetera denied.

“I am at the early stages of attaining one. I finished my taught courses two years ago and am now working on my proposal,” Mavetera wrote on her X account Saturday.

However, former Mt Pleasant Member of Parliament and renowned lawyer, Fadzayi Mahere, took Mavetera to task, demanding an explanation as to how she intends to complete a doctorate in nine months.

She also questioned why it has taken her six years to reach the proposal stage.

“If you are telling the truth in your tweet, why have you been at the ‘proposal stage’ of your PhD dissertation for six years? Why has it taken you six years to get started? Why are you failing to even complete chapter one, an introductory chapter?

“When did you get accepted to do a PhD at MSU? How did you get a PhD place without a substantive research proposal? Who is your thesis supervisor?

“Your LinkedIn page further states you will have completed your PhD by November 2025.

“How do you plan to complete a whole PhD in nine months if you’ve taken over six years to put together a research proposal? How will you balance this onerous academic burden with your role as a Cabinet minister, a Member of Parliament, and a senior party official?”

Mavetera replied:

“Covid and teething problems since it was a new course for Midlands State affected us. We started with 2 years taught courses. Proposal presentation started effectively last year. I did my part and personally went to present mine so we await the Higher degrees committee decision.”

Mavetera also refuted claims by Dug Up that she paid an unnamed academic in Mutare to complete her PhD work on her behalf.

“I wish I knew this person. Unfortunately, there is no name provided. Even to suggest that this person communicates with my supervisor, which institution in this world would allow such a thing? I am a public figure. Who would claim to be me, if they were not? I have not even started chapter one, so what would be the point of such deception?” she stated.

Mavetera also denied allegations that she lacks the five Ordinary Level subjects required for university enrolment, a claim she vehemently dismissed as false, arguing that she could not have been enrolled at MSU, where she claims to be pursuing her PhD programme.

“How does one get enrolled at a reputable university like MSU without those qualifications? For your information, I was Student Representative Council President at Women’s University in 2014. I was a class representative in 2016 at MSU while undertaking my strategic marketing masters, so everyone from my class would know me,” she explained.

Mahere again laid into Mavetera, urging her to refrain from using the title “Dr.”

“In the circumstances, can you agree that there is no lawful basis at this stage for you to present yourself as a “Dr.”? Can you understand why we are surprised that as recently as yesterday, your ministry was still using this title in relation to you?”

In 2022, Mavetera was jubilant, announcing that she had been awarded a “Doctorate of Humane Letters” from the International Institute of Philanthropy (IIP).

However, the “Doctorates of Humane Letters” issued by the IPP were officially revoked and withdrawn by the High Court of Zimbabwe in July of last year. Despite this, the government and her ministry continue to refer to Mavetera as “Dr.”

This year, Shackmore Wellington Timburwa, another Zanu PF activist and Chegutu West Member of Parliament, was exposed as not holding a PhD in International Relations from the University of South Africa (UNISA), contrary to his claims on LinkedIn dating back to 2023.

This year, yet another Zanu PF apologist, Prophet Walter Magaya, who was also a contestant for Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) presidency, was exposed for claiming a fake degree from the UNISA. This is an Ignite Media Zimbabwe news production.
Magaya had approached the High Court to challenge his disqualification from contesting as ZIFA president, a move resulting from his failure to produce an O-Level certificate with at least five subject passes.