By James Gwati-The suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice-Chancellor Levi Nyagura, who is being accused of illegally awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe a PhD has denied the charges.

Nyagura denied the allegations today through his lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Mr Munamato Mtevedzi at the Harare magistrates courts.

Zhuwarara said the accused pleads not guilty to the charge and will lead evidence to show that he did not contravene or act outside any university statute regulation or ordinance as regards the conferment by the faculty of Social Studies at the University of Zimbabwe of a doctor of philosophy degree to Mugabe.

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.