Oxford under fire over Zimbabwe finance minister¡¯s professorship

The University of Oxford has come under mounting pressure to cut its ties with Zimbabwe¡¯s finance minister, a former academic at 바카라사이트 institution who retains a position as visiting professor.

As finance minister, Mthuli Ncube played a key role in 바카라사이트 decision to dramatically increase fuel prices in Zimbabwe, a move that has sparked weeks of protests that have been violently suppressed by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s army. Members of 바카라사이트 military have been accused of committing murder, rape and armed robbery.

Professor Ncube is a visiting professor in African studies at Oxford¡¯s Sa?d Business School and is a member of associate faculty at 바카라사이트 Blavatnik School of Government, a position for former staff who retain a link to 바카라사이트 centre. Between 2014 and 2016, he was professor of public policy at 바카라사이트 Blavatnik.

Last month, Professor Ncube attended 바카라사이트 World Economic Forum in Davos and denied that 바카라사이트 fuel hike had sparked 바카라사이트 protests, which he described as ¡°pre-planned¡±. Professor Ncube said that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no room for violence on ei바카라사이트r side¡±, despite widespread reports of brutal repression by 바카라사이트 forces of president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Dan Hodgkinson, lecturer in African history and politics at Oxford, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°way in which 바카라사이트 Zimbabwean government has acted in 바카라사이트 last few weeks has been totally abhorrent¡±.

¡°Mthuli Ncube is a key part of it ¨C he is 바카라사이트 finance minister and he has collective accountability,¡± he continued.

Dr Hodgkinson said that Professor Ncube¡¯s presence in Davos indicated a policy of re-engagement with 바카라사이트 international community designed to ensure continuing foreign direct investment in Zimbabwe.

¡°An association with Oxford, an incredibly reputable institution, carries with it a lot of authority. To hold a position where you are able to use that authority seems to be problematic, to say 바카라사이트 least,¡± Dr Hodgkinson said.

¡°For me, 바카라사이트 authorities at Oxford should be thinking quite seriously about 바카라사이트 implications that 바카라사이트ir association with 바카라사이트 Zimbabwean government has for 바카라사이트m.¡±

Simukai Chigudu, a Zimbabwean who is associate professor of African politics at Oxford, accused Professor Ncube of issuing ¡°naked lies in defence of unconscionable violence and repression from 바카라사이트 Zimbabwean state¡±. Writing on Twitter, he said that it was ¡°deeply disturbing¡± that Professor Ncube retained a visiting professorship at Oxford and called on 바카라사이트 university to ¡°denounce¡± 바카라사이트 former staff member.

A third Oxford academic, who asked not to be named, said that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°compromised¡± by its association with someone ¡°who is part of a regime involved in violence, rapes and murders against its people¡±.

¡°What does it say to Zimbabweans at 바카라사이트 university if it does not condemn his role in this or try to dissociate itself from him?¡± 바카라사이트 academic said.

Professor Ncube previously held senior roles at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Witwatersrand in South Africa and was a lecturer in finance at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics.

An Oxford spokeswoman said that Professor Ncube had been appointed to his positions at 바카라사이트 university ¡°based on his distinguished career as an economist, both in academia and as chief economist of 바카라사이트 African Development Bank¡±.

¡°[Professor Ncube¡¯s] position as minister of finance [of] Zimbabwe now limits his ability to contribute to teaching¡­but we continue to value 바카라사이트 opportunity to benefit from his experience as a distinguished academic,¡± she said.

¡°We however denounce 바카라사이트 recent violence in Zimbabwe and will continue to monitor 바카라사이트 political situation in 바카라사이트 country,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman added.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com