An interesting exchange happened on X formerly known as Twitter. This exchanged captivated Zimbabwe’s political and academic circles, Honourable Tatenda Anastacia Mavetera, ZANU PF Minister of ICT and founder of Young Women for Economic Development, boldly confronted opposition figures Fadzayi Mahere and Hopwell Chin’ono who ganged up on her over allegations of academic fraud surrounding her PhD studies.
The showdown, erupting in full view of the public on the social media platform, showcases Mavetera’s resolve to defend her integrity with unyielding confidence.
The confrontation began when Mahere posted a lengthy and accusatory tweet questioning the timeline and legitimacy of Mavetera’s Doctorate in Business Leadership at Midlands State University (MSU).
Mahere wrote:
“You say you are at the ‘proposal stage’ of your PhD and that you haven’t even started chapter 1 of your thesis. However, on your LinkedIn page, you state that you commenced the ‘Doctorate in Business Leadership’ in May 2019 and are due to complete it in November 2025. Did you lie on your LinkedIn page or are you lying to us now? If you are telling the truth in your tweet, why have you been at the ‘proposal stage’ of your PhD dissertation for 6 years? Why has it taken you 6 years to get started? Why are you failing to even complete chapter 1, 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 says you will have completed your PhD by November 2025. How do you plan to complete a whole PhD in 9 months if you’ve taken over 6 years to put together a research proposal? How will you balance this onerous academic burden with your role as a Cabinet minister, an MP and a senior party official? We need new leaders.🇿🇼”
Addressing the delays in her PhD progress, Mavetera explained:
“Covid and teething problems since it was a new course for
@MidlandsState
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 and we await the Higher degrees committee decision.”
But Mavetera didn’t stop there. Taking direct aim at the fraud allegations, she issued a daring challenge:
“If anyone wrote a thesis for me as alleged, let them send you and please post it . Bring receipts and let MSU verify. Right now, it’s just hearsay from a nameless source lurking in the shadows of journalism. Please prove what you posted?The burden of proof lies with the accuser “
Mavetera further added “Secondly this person communicates to my supervisor on my behalf? Who is my supervisor he or she speaks with? May you please provide details of the meetings or even conversations.”
Hopewell joined in and said “honorary doctorate from a criminal entity that the High Court of Zimbabwe declared bogus.
Why are you still prefacing your name with “Dr” when you do not have a PhD or even a recognised honorary degree?
In a normal country where ministers are appointed on merit, you would have resigned, but Zimbabwe is a kleptocracy!
What example are you setting for the youths, and are you not embarrassed by attempting to hoodwink Zimbabweans that you have academic qualifications that don’t exist?”
Mavetera who was in no mood to be intimidated stood her ground and stated facts when she responded “IPP indeed was discredited. Was IWU also discredited?Academic? I have never said I have an Academic Qualification like that? I am setting an example of the youth believing in continuous learning like I am doing.”
Tatenda Mavetera becomes the first politician from ZANU PF to publicly take on Hopewell Chin’ono and Fadzayi Mahere who are viewed as the ultimate untouchables of Zimbabwean social media.
