PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday capped his wife, Auxillia, who graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management at the Midlands State University (MSU) graduation ceremony in Gweru.
In conferring the degree, the MSU said the thesis of the First Lady’s doctorate was titled The Efficiency of Hotels in Zimbabwe: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach.
The First Lady was among 6 479 graduands who were conferred with various degrees at the university.
Mnangagwa’s doctorate is part of the First Lady’s various accolades accumulated after becoming the country’s First Lady following her husband’s rise to the presidency through a military coup in November 2017.
A member of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), Auxillia studied secretarial studies at Silveira House in Chishawasha before joining the Manpower Planning and Development ministry in 1981.
Mnangagwa also studied hotel and tourism administration in Switzerland and she graduated with a degree in 2001.
In 2008, she graduated with a Masters in Business Administration Degree from the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe.
Auxillia is a former chairperson of Pan African Parliament for the southern African region.
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She holds various honorary doctorates, including Doctor of Philosophy in Law Honorary Degree (UZ), an honorary doctorate degree in development studies with the Zimbabwe Open University and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Honoris Causa) degree from the GD Goenka University in Gurugram Haryana, India, in recognition of her philanthropic work.
Auxillia has spearheaded several philanthropic projects such as the establishment of women’s banks in all constituencies in the Midlands province.
On assumption of her role as First Lady, she formed the Angel of Hope Foundation and has visited communities and institutions donating foodstuffs, bed linen, stationery, ICT and medical equipment while initiating comprehensive self-help projects like fishponds, nutrition gardens, orchards and free range chicken rearing.
She has also engaged the spouses of traditional leaders as agents of change and empowerment to influence other women under their jurisdictions to engage in self-help projects.
The First Lady was appointed ambassador for Health while she was also honoured as patron of environment by the Environment, Water and Climate ministry.
An active member of the OAFLAD, known for fighting the spread of HIV and actively engaging the youth on sexual health matters discouraging premarital sex. Auxillia has been facilitating free medical specialist services for marginalised communities through her outreach programmes.
The First Lady has also launched the National Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination, an anti-cancer programme expected to benefit more than 800 000 girls aged between 10 and 14.
Auxillia has engaged men under the Men’s Conference on issues of gender-based violence, child marriages and sexual abuse especially of minors as well as challenging men to improve their health-seeking behaviour.
Meanwhile, in his speech, MSU vice-chancellor Victor Muzvidziwa said 30% of the graduands yesterday were postgraduate students.
According to Muzvidziwa, 1 991 of the 6 479 graduands were postgraduate students, while 10 graduated with doctorate degrees and five with Master of Philosophy degrees.
The other 200 graduated with postgraduate diplomas and certificates.
“The gender composition of these graduands is 53% female and 47% male,” he said, adding that the first batch of medicine students graduated yesterday.
“Allow me to inform you that we have 18 graduands belonging to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. This is the first cohort to graduate with a bachelor of medicine and surgery at MSU.”
