Controversial Zimbabwean businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, widely known as a key ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business and Strategic Management by Babcock University in Lagos, Nigeria.
A senior academic at the University of Zimbabwe who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “These kinds of honorary degrees often raise eyebrows, especially when they are given to politically exposed persons. While the recipient may have business credentials, the symbolism is rarely neutral.”
Babcock University, a private Christian institution operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said the honorary degree recognises Tagwirei’s “contributions to leadership, enterprise, and economic transformation.”
With a student population of over 20,000, the Nigerian institution has produced several high-profile alumni in the corporate world.
This marks the second honorary doctorate for Tagwirei, following a similar award from Zimbabwe’s Solusi University in November 2023, where he was conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy in Agribusiness, Entrepreneurship, and Management.
Tagwirei is the CEO of Sakunda Holdings and is involved in fuel, agriculture, mining, and infrastructure. Despite being under Western sanctions for alleged corruption and state capture, he remains one of the most influential businessmen in Zimbabwe’s political economy.
Source: Zimeye