The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
LATE Vice-President Dr John Landa Nkomo was recently posthumously conferred with an honorary degree at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) 20th graduation ceremony by the Chancellor of the university, President Mugabe.The degree which was received by the late VP’s son Mr Jabulani Nkomo, was in honour of the tremendous work that Dr Nkomo showcased during his lifetime.
Mr Nkomo said he was humbled by the gesture.
“Your Excellency, I am extremely proud to be here today to accept the award of the conferment of the Doctor of Philosophy Degree by the National University of Science and Technology on behalf of my departed father.
“I have brought with me my mother Mrs Georgina Nkomo, my wife Busiso, my uncle Philip, my brother Kembo and my sister Nomagugu. I have conveyed a message to my grandmother, gogo MaDube about the occasion,” he said.
He said in as much as Dr Nkomo was not physically present, he was with them in spirit to share the momentous occasion.
“I have noted the citation read to us today and it does capture a lot about my father who was a dedicated and principled cadre, a selfless revolutionary, a man of peace, a man who has left a legacy of humility,” he said.
He said the traits mentioned about the late VP must have been key in considering him as a perfect candidate to be conferred with the award.
“I would like to thank on his behalf, your Excellency and Chancellor of Nust, the Nust senate and the committee that sat and deliberated on this award, and indeed the whole Nust community for the conferment.
“My family will cherish it a lot. We miss our father and we will do our best to keep his name and legacy alive. We are happy that Nust found it necessary to confer this award even if he is gone,” he said.
Dr Lawton Hikwa, the Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Science, read the citation during the graduation ceremony.
“Your Excellency and Chancellor, the late John Landa Nkomo is hereby awarded The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) honoris causa,” he read.
A degree honoris causa (for the sake of the honour) is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study and the passing of examinations. The degree is typically a doctorate or, less commonly, a master’s degree, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the academic institution.
The degree is often conferred as a way of honouring a distinguished visitor’s contributions to a specific field or to society in general.
In 2006 Dr Nkomo was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Philosophy by Solusi University in recognition of his dedication to the liberation struggle of Zimbabwe and to the building of the nation. He made significant contributions to the political, economic, social and educational development of Zimbabwe.
