President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently went to Chiweshe in Mashonaland Central province. He was there to celebrate his wife, First Lady Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa. She got her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Midlands State University. The president had capped her with her doctoral tam during her graduation at the university in Gweru.

This moment reminds many people of what happened years ago. In 2014, former First Lady Grace Mugabe also got a PhD. She got hers from the University of Zimbabwe. However, many people questioned it. Some said it was fake. It caused a lot of talk, and things did not go well for her later. Grace’s husband, the late former president Robert Mugabe, was removed from power in 2017 through a coup.

The idea of top officials in Zimbabwe chasing PhDs is not new. Many believe they do it to gain more power and respect. Some also think it is done to make them look smarter and more capable than others. This is a growing trend in Zimbabwe, and it raises many questions. Are these PhDs really about learning and serving the public? Or are they just about showing off and getting more influence?

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga also has a PhD. He got his from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Just like Grace Mugabe’s PhD, Chiwenga’s degree has caused a lot of debate. Some people believe it was earned in a fair way. Others think it was given for political reasons.

This trend is called “academic credentialism.” It means getting degrees not because of a love for learning, but because of what those degrees can bring. For Zimbabwean officials, having a PhD can make them seem more credible. It can make them appear more qualified to lead. To some people, a PhD is seen as proof of competence. But is it really?

In Zimbabwe, the push for PhDs often seems tied to politics. Many officials think that having a PhD can help them keep or gain more power. It can also make them more respected in their political careers. But this is not the real purpose of higher education. Education should be about learning. It should be about gaining knowledge to serve others better.

When leaders pursue education for personal gain, it affects the whole country. Instead of working to solve real problems, they focus on boosting their own image. This can lead to corruption. It can also make the education system lose its value.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to study or learn more. In fact, it is a good thing. Leaders who seek education for the right reasons can make a big difference. They can bring new ideas and skills to their work. But education should not be used as a shortcut to power. It should not be a way to trick people into thinking someone is more capable than they really are.

In Zimbabwe, many people are starting to ask hard questions. They want to know if these PhDs are real. They also want to know if the officials who get them are truly qualified. It is not just about the degrees. It is about what those degrees represent.

As Zimbabwe moves forward, its leaders must show that they value real education. They must prove that they care about serving the public, not just boosting their own status. Pursuing a PhD should be about learning and growing. It should not be about gaining power at any cost. Leaders must remember this if they want to earn the respect of the people.