by Staff Reporter
- ‘I am educated now and I can run the country’,he told a gathering in South Africa
- Chiwenga on numerous occasions failed courses at Staff College and attempted a suicide in the 1980s
- Shocked many by attainment of a Masters degree in International Relations and winning the book prize in 2011
Chiwenga …I am educated now, I can run the country
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga recently graduated with a PhD in Ethics from University Of KwaZulu Natal’s College of Humanities , and brags ‘I am educated now and I can run the country’, theZimbabwenewslive.com can reveal.
Despite, the flattering ad flies in the face of a damning appraisal contained in the Wikileaks cables by Brigadier General Herbert Chingono, the Inspector General for the Zimbabwe National Army, and Major General Fidelis Satuku, the ZDF Director General for Policy and Personnel, who in a January 5 and 6, 2010 meeting with US ambassador Charles Ray, spoke disrespectfully about their commander as an ignoramus.Chiwenga on numerous occasions failed courses at Staff College and twice attempted suicide in the 1980s, a former military intelligence Officer has revealed on condition of anonymity.
“I feel very humbled and most thrilled to have attained this achievement. I thank God for giving me the strength. This will remain one of the most unforgettable highlights of my academic life”, said Chiwenga.
His PhD was the culmination of his freedom fighting experiences and the questions that arose thereafter resulting in his thesis, “The Predominance of an Ethic of Double Standards in the United Nations Security Council Humanitarian Intervention Missions: A Critical study based on the Ethical theories of Mutual Aid and Equal Recognition”.
“My main critical tools against double standards were ethical concepts of equal recognition – all countries of the world should be recognised in terms of their capabilities to contribute to peace and security in the world and of mutual aid – which is based on the presumption that all countries of the world should be seen as indispensable to the promotion of peace and security in the world”, he added
One of the major findings of his research was that national self-interest of P5 (members of the UN Security Council) members inevitably undermine the moral integrity of this world organisation in its quest to resolve international conflict and security issues.
‘This finding was predicated on numerous case studies which, sadly, reveal a precipitous decline of UN moral stature, particularly in the eyes of the developing world. Another worrisome finding was how the notion of “responsibility to protect” was being abused by some P5 members to aggress independent-minded sovereign states, in their pursuit of national self-interests.’
Chiwenga hopes his research will benefit society in an academic/scholarly capacity by assisting in stimulating further research in the context of reforming the Security Council, in line with the current global political, economic, military/security and social dynamics.
And that the research, to some extent will influence strategic policy at regional and international levels in as far as what needs to be done to find a workable and sustainable formula of reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The key challenge for Chiwenga was in balancing national duties and research demands of the study but through his supportive family and friends, he succeeded and is appreciative of their significant support.
Despite such a challenge, Chiwenga noted that during his studies he was able to interview politicians, diplomats, bureaucrats and academics, in the region and beyond who were conversant with his area of research study. Some of those interviewed included Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia), President Joseph Kabila (DRC), President Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) and even Reverend Frank Chikane (former South African Director-General in the Presidency).
His advice to other students is to have scholarly determination, hard work and discipline. ‘Whilst it is always difficult to meet the submission deadlines, I urge them all to work extra hard. Yes, at times a thesis supervisor can be tough, but they should remember that his or her toughness on you is meant to make you a scholar who at the end of the day produces a commendable and quality research work.’
Asked about his future academic plans, Chiwenga said, ‘I look forward to writing a book which will be a conversion of this thesis. UKZN has a reputable publishing house (UKZN Press); I plan to approach them to that end. I also intend to publish articles in reputable journals and these articles would be in line with my area of research interest.’
‘Besides my current professional tasks, I would contribute to the academia through the delivering of guest lectures and making presentations at conferences and seminars within the region and beyond.’
When contacted for comment, the university registrar’s department confirmed that General Chiwenga fulfilled all requirements for the award.
Additional Reporting by UKZN.
