Mugabe’s degree rescinded

The state university has never before revoked an honorary degree in its 145-year history.Rescinding an honorary degree is a step to be taken in only the rarest and most grievous of circumstances,” Robert Manning, chairperson of school’s board of trustees, said in a statement after the unanimous vote by the 22-member board.”Robert Mugabe’s performance and policies in Zimbabwe are so egregious as to warrant this ultimate expression of disapproval,” he said.Mugabe, 84, led the nation to independence from Britain in 1980 but has become an international pariah, accused of human rights abuses and ineffective economic policies that have resulted in rampant inflation, food shortages and poverty.Mugabe and his officials are accused of intimidating opponents since a poll in March in which opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won but fell short of the margin needed for outright victory, necessitating a runoff later this month.”In 1986, Robert Mugabe appeared to represent the hope of a self-determined Africa. We have now learned, however, that the promise we saw in 1986 was false,” said Kevin Murphy, a Massachusetts lawmaker who urged the university to revoke the degree because of escalating state-sponsored violence