Staff Reporter

The University of Zimbabwe is embroiled in another academic fraud case where 7 final year students in the Veterinary Science faculty are alleged to have been given altered results in order for them to graduate, after they failed their core courses on their official results.

Details have emerged that the decision to alter the results was made by the Chairperson of the Clinical Veterinary Sciences Department Dr Norman Mukarati in connivance with the faculty’s Dean Professor Gift Matope. The development has irked lectures and students in the faculty as it compromises the ethical standards of the institution.

UZ’s Faculty of Veterinary Science

Investigations conducted by this publication revealed that Dr Mukarati and Professor Matope held a board meeting after the official results of the 7 students who failed were released two weeks ago. In that meeting, the two instructed lecturers to alter their results to allow the 10 students to pass and graduate.

Some of the names of the 7 students whose results were altered are: Linford Masotcha: Small Animal Medicine (41%); Anorld Mushayi: Small Animal Medicine (40%); Obey Kadyamajongwe: Small Animal Medicine (43%) and Small Animal Surgery (44%); Adeline Musunda: Small Animal Surgery (43%); Moses Madenga: Small Animal Medicine (46%), Small Animal Surgery (40%) and Herd Health (45%); Tadiwa Karumbidza: Small Animal Medicine (43%); Wright Zvomuya: Small Animal Medicine (40%) and Small Animal Surgery (40%).

“The students’ body is outraged, knowing that allowing this act to pass would be a travesty, casting aspersions on the reputation of genuinely deserving students. Moreover, awarding degrees to undeserving students poses a significant threat to the veterinary profession, animal, and human health interests.

“We call on the authorities to act swiftly, demanding a forensic audit and investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. The rule of law must prevail in Zimbabwe, and academic integrity must be upheld. The graduation ceremony, pencilled for Friday, 13 September 2024, must be put on hold until this matter is resolved.

“Truth and integrity, once compromised, leave scars that never fade.

Let justice reign, and let the veterinary profession be saved from this academic charade. Shadows of the past, where degrees were bought and sold, must not haunt the halls of learning, where knowledge is meant to unfold,” said one of the lecturers who spoke on condition of anonymity.

When asked for a comment, the Faculty’s Chairperson, Dr Norman Mukarati, neither confirmed nor denied these developments but said he is not allowed to talk to reporters concerning the affairs of the University.

“I am not authorized to talk to reporters or other outside persons concerning the affairs of the University. You may contact the Information Department,” Dr Mukarati said.

Efforts to get a comment from the University’s information department were fruitless as their number was not being picked up by the time of publishing.

The Registrar of the Veterinary Surgeons of Zimbabwe, Dr Brian Fungai Chikodze, said he was not aware of the allegations.

“I am unaware of the allegations. But Council will do an investigation,” Dr Chikodze said.

The news come as the University of Zimbabwe is holding a graduation ceremony today where President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to cap thousands of students.

The University has previously been rocked by a lot of academic fraud cases which include that of the former First Lady of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe being issued a fake PHD.  Cases of people who write dissertations for other students are also rife.