By Paul Nyathi|Wide spread reports that University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura is on suspension following allegations of him un-procedurally awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe a doctorate, are untrue.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Prof. Amon Murwira revealed in the Senate House on Thursday.

Responding to a question from MDC-T Senator Siphiwe Ncube why the Vice Chancellor was still at work when he should be on suspension, the Minister said his office is not aware of the suspension.

“You are reading issues from the newspapers, as far as my office is concerned no official letter from the president who is the appointing authority has been written to the effect,” said the Minister.

Local media including state media has in the last week been running reports that Nyagura was suspended by the University Council to allow for investigations to be conducted on the PhD awarded to Mrs Mugabe without due process.

According to Minister Murwira only the President Emerson Mnangagwa has the authority to suspend or dismiss the Vice Chancellor and he has not done that.

However latest developments from the University indicate that the Council passed a resolution to suspend the Vice Chancellor but the Council Chairman
Buzwani Mothobi did not write the letter to Nyagura.

The council has since accused the chairman of insubordination to the council by failing to execute a council resolution.

Speaking to media on the issue at the University, Shingi Munyeza who is the chairperson of the risk and audit committee said that the chairman might be found guilty of subverting the council charter.

“When a board passes a resolution and such resolution is not implemented at the time agreed without any explanation is tantamount to subversion of the board charter and indeed good corporate governance,” he said.

Nyagura was briefly arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission last week on the same charges and was granted bail by the courts.