By Delicious Mathuthu
Zimbabwe First Lady, Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa was among the more than 6 400 graduands capped by the Head of State and Government, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, at the 25th Midlands State University (MSU) Graduation Ceremony on Thursday (21/11/2024).
Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in Tourism and Hospitality Management, much to the applause of the gallery as she went through the capping routine, kneeling before her husband, who is also MSU Chancellor.
Her PhD thesis was titled: “The Efficiency of Hotels in Zimbabwe: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach”, under the Faculty of Business Sciences.
The 25th MSU graduation ceremony saw 6 279 students graduating with different degrees and 200 with certificates and postgraduate diplomas.
Of these, 53 percent were female and 47 percent were male.
In his address to the graduands, University partners and invited guests, MSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor Muzvidziwa said graduands should take pride in their degrees, diplomas and certificates as they were worked hard for.
“To our graduands, today is your day, let us celebrate this momentous occasion.
“These are hard earned credentials that should make you proud,” he said.
“Your Excellency and Chancellor, I have the distinct honour to present to you 6 479 graduates, 1 991 of whom are post graduates, that is 30% of these graduates are post graduate; of these 10 will be graduating with a doctorate degree,” he added.
On the First Lady, Prof. Muzvidziwa said she was exemplary throughout her five year study period, and humbled herself before her supervisors.
“Among those graduating today are several prominent individuals from our society. One of these is none other than the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa.
“For the past five years she has been an exemplary D-Phil student, from proposal, presentation to oral defense of her thesis.
“We recognize her exceptional work ethic, resilience and dedication to her studies.
“Above all her humble deference to her supervisors and intellectual curiosity has been instructive to all of us,” he said.
Among the graduands was also prominent Zimbabwean musician and poet, Albert Nyathi, who graduated with a Master of Philosophy Degree in Ethnomusicology under the Faculty of Social Sciences.
