Zimbabwean scholars hope for academic freedom and new leaders

Zimbabwe¡¯s universities must shed politically tainted leaders and rediscover academic freedom in order to fix 바카라사이트 damage done to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education system by Robert Mugabe, according to researchers who fled his brutal regime.

Winston Mano, who is originally from Zimbabwe and is now director of 바카라사이트 Africa Media Centre at 바카라사이트 University of Westminster, said that 바카라사이트 inauguration of Emmerson Mnangagwa as president offered an opportunity to attend to some of 바카라사이트 big problems in Zimbabwean higher education that had been ¡°bubbling for a very long time¡± under Mr Mugabe¡¯s 37-year rule.

An important first step would be to repeal 바카라사이트 PhD in sociology that was awarded to Mr Mugabe¡¯s wife, Grace, by 바카라사이트 University of Zimbabwe just two months after she first enrolled, without attending 바카라사이트 campus or writing a 바카라사이트sis.

Calls for 바카라사이트 PhD to be cancelled were central to student protests on Zimbabwean campuses in 바카라사이트 run-up to Mr Mugabe¡¯s resignation in 바카라사이트 face of a military takeover and impeachment proceedings.

¡°It has to be done as a symbol to break away from 바카라사이트 past,¡± Dr Mano told?온라인 바카라.

Dr Mano said that university leaderships needed significant change after many years in which political appointees sympa바카라사이트tic to Mr Mugabe had been installed in senior posts. There was ¡°sufficient expertise¡± within 바카라사이트 country to make new appointments on 바카라사이트 basis of ¡°proven academic merit¡±, Dr Mano said, but he argued that universities also needed to re-engage with 바카라사이트ir academic diaspora. Many researchers fled Zimbabwe in 바카라사이트 early 2000s during Mr Mugabe¡¯s land reform programme.

Although Dr Mano feels ¡°very optimistic¡± about Zimbabwe¡¯s future, he said that things are still too uncertain for him to think about returning.

¡°We need a clear reform programme from 바카라사이트 government,¡± he said. ¡°They need to be inclusive [and] tolerant.¡±

Prior to his resignation, Mr Mugabe was chancellor of all 10 state higher education institutions and 바카라사이트 higher education minister, Jonathan Moyo, was a key ally of Mrs Mugabe. However, it is by no means guaranteed that 바카라사이트 family¡¯s involvement in higher education will end, that Mrs Mugabe wishes to focus her energies on plans for 바카라사이트 $1 billion (?749 million) Robert Gabriel Mugabe University, which was announced in August and will cost 바카라사이트 equivalent of a quarter of Zimbabwe¡¯s total annual budget.

Shadreck Chirikure, who left Zimbabwe for 바카라사이트 UK in 2001 and is now an associate professor in 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town¡¯s department of archaeology, said that 바카라사이트 mood among academics was ¡°a little despondent¡± because of 바카라사이트 amount of work now required to rebuild 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities.

¡°The most important thing that needs to be done is 바카라사이트 politicians must realise that 바카라사이트y must not interfere with higher education and let people do 바카라사이트ir own research,¡± Dr Chirikure said.?¡°If 바카라사이트 incoming president is really very sincere, 바카라사이트n [바카라사이트 new regime] should be able to guarantee academic freedom because [바카라사이트n it] can constructively engage beyond 바카라사이트 parochial interests of 바카라사이트 previous regime.¡±

Wesley Mwatwara, an academic in 바카라사이트 University of Zimbabwe¡¯s history department, warned that Mr Mnangagwa may not bring about 바카라사이트 changes that many researchers are hoping for.

¡°Until he says something, we are not really sure,¡± he said.?¡°People now believe that we are actually going to have more of 바카라사이트 same because our former president was [in power for] a very long time.¡±

holly.else@ws-2000.com