Dexter Nduna, a prominent member of the ZANU PF Central Committee, found himself facing public scrutiny after attending a graduation ceremony where he was not actually graduating.
The ceremony, held last month, was presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who holds the title of Chancellor for all state universities in Zimbabwe.
Dexter Nduna, who serves as the chairperson for resource mobilisation and revenue generation within the committee, made headlines not for his accomplishments, but rather for mistakenly gatecrashing the graduation event.
While many proud graduates celebrated their hard-earned degrees, Nduna was seated among them, fully dressed in a graduation gown.
The irony lay in the fact that he was still incomplete in his studies, having failed to pass three crucial courses: Energy and Mining Law, Labour Law, and Language Acquisition and Intercultural Communication Literacy (Chinese Language).
In light of this embarrassing mishap, Nduna took to social media to issue a heartfelt apology to President Mnangagwa. His statement, made public on October 10, outlined his reasoning for attending the ceremony and expressed his sincere regret for the incident.
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In his apology, Nduna stated, “Your Excellency, I express my heartfelt regret informed by conversations with the Honorable Minister of Defence, Cde O.C.Z. Muchinguri Kashiri. As the commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces and Chancellor of State universities, I seek your forgiveness for my misguided actions.”
He continued to explain that he had held onto the hope that his request for a remarking of his courses would bear fruit, leading him to believe he would be eligible for graduation. “I was assured that the issues around my modules were being addressed, and I thought I could celebrate my achievement alongside my peers,” he lamented.
The situation took a turn for the worse after the graduation ceremony when Nduna discovered through social media that he was not included in the final list of graduates. Confused and disappointed, he learned that his two outstanding courses still needed to be resolved before he could legitimately graduate.
In his statement, Nduna acknowledged the weight of his actions: “I apologize for prematurely celebrating my supposed graduation and thereby undermining the esteemed reputation of this great institution.” He recognized that, as a former military officer and legislator, he should have exercised better judgment, rather than allowing excitement to cloud his perception of reality.
Finally, Nduna promised to rectify his academic standing by re-registering and sitting for the exams for the courses he had not completed. He expressed his hopes that President Mnangagwa would find it in his heart to forgive his moment of folly. “I am but Your humble servant and true in my intentions to complete my law studies at the University of Zimbabwe,” he concluded.
Dexter Nduna’s apology serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity in academia and highlights the personal responsibility that comes with pursuing education. As he embarks on the path toward rectifying his academic status, the story of his graduation misstep will undoubtedly resonate as a lesson for both current and future students in Zimbabwe.
