A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturer has filed urgent legal action to stop the institution’s scheduled August 15 graduation ceremony, citing serious irregularities in exam results linked to a recent lecturers’ strike.
Dr Phillemon M. Chamburuka, representing the Association of University Teachers, has asked the High Court to order the Vice Chancellor, UZ Council, and other officials to postpone the ceremony until an independent forensic audit of the 2024–2025 second semester is completed.
He argues that proceeding under the current conditions would harm both students and the university’s reputation, warning that some qualifications may later be invalidated if based on flawed processes.
Dr Chamburuka describes a chaotic semester marked by industrial action that led to some courses being inadequately or not taught. Exams were set, moderated, and marked without the standard academic safeguards required by university policies.
Court documents include a confidential Senate report detailing major lapses in teaching, supervision, and examinations. Issues highlighted include inconsistent project marking, ignored invigilation protocols, and incomplete or improper grade moderation.
A memo from the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, dated May 27, acknowledged “serious gaps in the teaching and assessment cycle” but recommended proceeding with exams to protect the academic calendar.
Further communications revealed grading discrepancies, with final marks differing significantly from moderated scores without clear justification.
The University of Zimbabwe Students Union warned that holding graduation amid such doubts would damage the university’s reputation and undermine the value of its degrees.
The Council of Social Work also cautioned that graduates from compromised programmes might be registered as professionals without adequate training.
Dr Chamburuka says repeated efforts to engage the UZ Council were ignored, prompting the court action after the graduation date was announced on the university website.
The draft court order seeks to halt all graduation preparations, mandate an independent audit, and require the release of its findings before any degrees are awarded.
University officials have yet to comment, and the case is pending a hearing date.
Source: iharare.com
