A PART-TIME lecturer at Lupane State University’s (LSU) Department of Languages has reportedly been dismissed over an examination question which said a “fit President Robert Mugabe” was now targetting 100 years.
By NQOBANI NDLOVU
Thulani Tshabangu’s contract with the university was reportedly terminated over a question he set asking students to analyse Mugabe’s statements indicating he planned to be in power until he reaches 100 years.
Mugabe, who has never shied from exposing his desire to hang-on despite calls for him to step down, made the remarks during his belated 92nd birthday interview with the State broadcaster, ZTV in March.
“I am happy because I am about to reach the age I want. You know the age I want to reach — 100 years. So only eight years remain,” Mugabe said, adding he was fit and still doing daily morning exercises.
Basing his question on Mugabe’s remarks in a story carried by Reuters agency, Tshabangu had his contract terminated after he asked students to analyse the statement.
The question read: “With reference to Fairclough’s (1991) CDA [Critical Discourse Analysis] model, carry out a critical discourse analysis of the following text (25 marks). Fit Mugabe wants to live to 100.”
Tshabangu refused to comment over the matter.
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“I am sorry I can’t comment on this at the moment. Give me time,” he said in an emailed response to Southern Eye on Thursday.
LSU spokesperson, Zwelithini Dlamini preferred to say Tshabangu’s contract had not been renewed, as yet ahead of next year’s semester.
“He taught for this semester that has just ended. Their contracts are what we call fixed part-time contracts, meaning their duration is tied to the duration of a semester, and is renewable and not renewable upon the expiry of a semester.
“He did all the duties under that contract, but the renewal has not been done for the semester that begins next year,” Dlamini said yesterday.
In the ZTV interview, Mugabe said his wife, Grace, will not automatically inherit his throne, and declared he is not going anywhere.
“Why a successor? I am still there. Why do you want a successor? I did not say I was a candidate to retire,” he said.
“Others say the President wants to leave the throne to his wife. Where have you ever seen that, even in our culture, where a wife inherits from her husband?”
