By James Gwati-Former University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice-Chancellor Levi Nyagura has disassociated himself from the former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s fake PhD .

Nyagura distanced himself from the corruption scandal the Thursday through his lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Mr Munamato Mtevedzi at the Harare magistrates courts.

Nyagura’s attorney told the court that his client did not appoint Justice Tandire as a research assistant for Mugabe’s thesis neither did the accused give any direction or command on how such research results and data would be handled.

Nyagura was arrested in 2011, he single-handedly accepted and approved the application by Ntombizodwa Grace Marufu (Mrs Mugabe maiden name) to study for a doctorate in sociology.

Nyagura allegedly did so without the knowledge and recommendation of the departmental board and faculty of the higher degrees committee in violation of UZ quality assurance, guidelines and benchmarks.