Mugabe honour to be revoked?
06/04/2007 07:53  - (SA)  

Mugabe given 2008 candidacy 'Tsvangirai deserved beating'

Zimbabwe Special Report  Latest Zimbabwe Stories

Massachusetts - The University of Massachusetts has awarded nearly 2 000 honourary degrees to world leaders, renowned scholars and writers since 1885.

Now for the first time, the university is considering taking one back - from Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe.

When Mugabe received an honourary doctorate of law from the campus in 1986, he was hailed as a humane revolutionary who ended an oppressive white rule to establish an independent Zimbabwe in 1979. But in the two decades since, Mugabe has been condemned for attacks on dissidents and accused of running a corrupt government that has ruined the economy.

The US state department on Thursday acknowledged sponsorship of public events in Zimbabwe aimed at undermining Mugabe's government. In it annual report on supporting democracy worldwide, the department said its strategy for Zimbabwe also included steps to "support persons who criticized the government."

Some students at the Boston campus have circulated a petition asking for the university to revoke Mugabe's degree, and officials say they are considering doing so.

Not 'a good citizen of the world'

"Mugabe's actions during the past decade show he's fallen from being a good citizen of the world," said Shauna Murray, a UMass graduate student who helped circulate the petition. "He has a track record of suppressing basic human rights like free speech and the right to protest, and that doesn't represent what students here stand for."

The issue also has surfaced at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Michigan State University, which gave Mugabe honourary degrees in 1984 and 1990, respectively.

Terry Denbow, a Michigan State spokesperson, said administrators have received letters requesting that Mugabe's degree be rescinded.

"There have been discussions, but I know of no formal process for rescinding the degree," Denbow said.

Officials at Edinburgh said the issue of Mugabe's degree was under review.

According to UMass policy, honourary degrees are handed out to people "of great accomplishment and high ethical standards." Recipients have included Nelson Mandela, former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, author Toni Morrison and comedian and educator Bill Cosby. - Sapa-AP

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