By George Swarei
The International Institute of Philanthropy which recently awarded honorary doctorate degrees to some Zimbabweans has been directed by the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) to withdraw the doctorate degrees.
According to ZIMCHE, the institution is not authorized to offer degrees hence their actions violate Section 75(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013, alongside Section 10(1) of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education Act (Chapter 25:27), which expressly prohibit unregistered and unaccredited institutions from granting degrees.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education unequivocally stated that the International Institute of Philanthropy lacks the authorization to confer degrees in Zimbabwe, as it is not listed in the registry of higher education institutions.
This disregard for regulatory standards not only contravenes national laws but also undermines the credibility of Zimbabwe’s entire higher education system.
The council reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of Zimbabwe’s educational landscape and pledged to confront any threats to its stability.
Consequently, degrees issued by the International Institute of Philanthropy hold no validity within Zimbabwe. The public is strongly advised against using titles obtained from unregistered entities like the International Institute of Philanthropy,” noted ZIMCHE.
The International Institute of Philanthropy is instructed to take immediate action, including:
1. Halting all activities that violate Zimbabwean legislation governing education standards and degree awarding.
2. Publicly retracting all conferred degrees and notifying recipients accordingly.
