ZIM LEADERS LOVE PHDs, BUT DO THEY LOVE EDUCATION?

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was recently in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central, celebrating his wife, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, after she was given a PhD by Midlands State University. She was awarded the degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management, and during the graduation in Gweru, the president himself put the doctoral cap on her head.

To many, this looks like a happy moment. But as a political activist, I see something else. This is not just about education. It is part of a bigger problem in Zimbabwe—our leaders want titles, not knowledge. They are chasing PhDs like fashion. They want to be called “Doctor” more than they want to understand or lead better.

We have seen this before. Former First Lady Grace Mugabe got a PhD from the University of Zimbabwe in 2014. But her degree was called fake by many people. She got it fast, without going through the normal academic process. It became one of the many things people used to question her leadership and her hunger for power. Not long after, her husband, Robert Mugabe, was removed in a military coup in 2017.

Vice President Chiwenga also has a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. But again, people are not sure if the degree was real or political. Many Zimbabweans believe some of these PhDs are just tools for power. They are used to look smart and gain respect, even if there is no real learning behind them.

This is what we call “academic credentialism.” It means using education not to learn, but to look important. Our leaders are now turning degrees into power symbols. The more titles they get, the more they think they deserve to rule. But the truth is, a title cannot fix a broken economy. A PhD cannot feed a hungry child. A cap on the head means nothing if the people are still suffering.

As an activist, I speak because I care about Zimbabwe’s future. I write because I want people to see through these fake shows. Education is good. Learning is powerful. But only when it is real and honest. When leaders cheat or fast-track their way into degrees, they destroy the meaning of education. They send a message that it’s okay to take shortcuts. They make our universities look weak and untrustworthy.

We need leaders who love knowledge, not just titles. We need leaders who go to school to grow, not to show off. A PhD should not be a step to more power, but a step to better service. Zimbabwe needs servant leaders, not title-hungry politicians.

Let’s ask the hard questions. Why are so many government leaders chasing PhDs now? Why do these degrees come at a time when they want to grow their influence? Are they doing the real work, or are the universities under pressure to give them titles? These are questions we must all think about.

Education should be a light, not a mask. A true degree comes with time, hard work, and real knowledge. Not through fast-track programs or political gifts. Zimbabwe’s youth are watching. They are learning from what leaders do. What do we want to teach them? That cheating is okay if you are powerful? That you don’t need to study, just smile for the camera and wear a cap?

We can do better. Our country can rise, but only with honest leadership. As we see more PhDs in high places, we must look deeper. Are they real? Are they earned? Or are they just a new way to stay in power? Zimbabweans must keep asking, keep watching, and keep fighting for the truth. Because real education builds nations—but fake titles only break them.