Harare, Zimbabwe | The recent statement from the University of South Africa (UNISA) clarifying that Prophet Walter Magaya was never awarded an honorary doctorate by the institution has placed renewed attention on prominent South African cleric, Professor Solomon Mlambo.
As questions continue to swirl around the controversy, Professor Mlambo, a well-known religious leader and head of the Mount Zion Bible School, has found himself at the center of the discussion. He is also recognized for his appearances as a guest speaker on Soweto TV.
In 2017, images surfaced showing Prophet Magaya and his family celebrating the conferment of an honorary doctorate, with a UNISA banner prominently displayed in the background.
These images also included Professor Mlambo, who appears to have played a significant role in the events leading to Magaya’s purported doctorate, which has now become the subject of intense scrutiny.
During an interview with The Herald at the time, Prophet Magaya mentioned receiving a letter from Professor Mlambo. According to the letter, Professor Mlambo, along with the School of Theology and Mount Zion Bible School, annually awards honorary doctorate degrees to individuals selected from South Africa and beyond in recognition of their contributions to their communities.
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Following the receipt of this letter, Prophet Magaya claimed that a UNISA delegation discreetly visited Zimbabwe to assess his farming initiatives. He stated that the team was impressed by his ability to balance his spiritual leadership with agricultural ventures and by the number of people he employed.
Magaya further indicated that his philanthropic efforts in Zimbabwe and other countries, including Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Portugal, and the UK, were also taken into consideration.
However, UNISA’s media affairs department has now categorically denied any involvement in granting Prophet Magaya an honorary doctorate. In their official statement, they asserted that their records contain no evidence of Magaya ever being registered as a student or graduating from the university.
The statement read:
“Based on the information provided, the university’s system does not show any record of Mr. Magaya being registered or having graduated from UNISA.
“This means that UNISA does not recognize Mr. Magaya as a student or a graduate. Any certificate he presents claiming affiliation with UNISA is fraudulent.
“UNISA has never conferred any honorary doctorate upon Mr. Magaya.
“We strongly denounce this false claim.
“We believe that such actions tarnish our institution’s reputation, and we reserve the right to take appropriate corrective measures.”
This controversy has raised concerns about the legitimacy of honorary degrees awarded outside traditional academic processes and the potential reputational risks faced by institutions associated with such claims.
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