The University of Edinburgh confirmed on Monday that it had withdrawn an honorary doctorate awarded to Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe in 1984 because of concern over his human rights record.
The decision — the first time the British institution has taken such a step since it was founded in 1583 — was confirmed on Monday after Mugabe failed to meet a weekend deadline to file a written appeal, a spokesperson said.
The University of Edinburgh’s senate, its highest decision-making body, began the process last month to strip Mugabe (83) of the honour given for his services to education in Africa.
”We have not heard back so we have formally agreed today [Monday] he’s no longer got an honorary degree,” the spokesperson said. ”We will send a final letter to confirm that once and for all.”
Zimbabwe had already dismissed the decision as ”meaningless”.
When the honour was bestowed on him, the university recognised Mugabe as a great figure of modern Africa and a talented statesman with a strong intellect.
But a campaign by politicians and students grew recently as he came under fire for his human rights record.
The European Union imposed a travel ban on Mugabe and more than 100 people closely linked to his regime after the Zimbabwean leader won elections in 2002 that international observers said were rigged and marred by intimidation.
The president has also been slammed for leading the once-model economy into ruin and trampling on democracy and human rights. The Southern African nation currently has the world’s highest inflation rate.
Portugal, which currently holds the rotation presidency of the EU, has hinted that Lisbon might exceptionally invite Mugabe to December’s European Union summit.
African nations such as South Africa have objected to the ban imposed on Mugabe and his fellow Zimbabweans. — Sapa-AFP