Unisa online - Many Mozambicans seek education at Unisa

From left: Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal & Vice-Chancellor), former President Chissano & Judge Bernard Ngoepe (Chancellor)

Unisa has long been recognised as a leader in distance education and has provided opportunities for many students from different countries and colonies to obtain their degrees. This was the view expressed by former President of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, who received an honorary doctorate from Unisa on 24 May 2011.

Unisa conferred the degree of Doctor of Literature and Philosophy on former President Chissano in recognition of his remarkable work of reconciling factions within his own Frelimo party, and between Frelimo and the main opposition party, Renamo. The peace agreement between the two parties, negotiated in 1992, holds to this day; it is also one of the few settlements in the world, negotiated between opposing movements, that remains in place.

In his acceptance speech, former President Chissano said that many Mozambicans seek to bolster their education at Unisa as they recognise that Unisa can help to equip Africa to face its current challenges. “Unisa has provided an opportunity for African people to become aware of and understand their condition as colonised people who had to regain their dignity and their rightful place in world society. Some of them came later to lead the processes of emancipation and independence of their countries. Many Mozambicans have been seeking to bolster their education in this university because they recognise in it high competencies that can better equip Africa to face its current challenges.”

Former President Chissano said that Africa has had to overcome several obstacles to assert itself as a respected continent. He said this has created affinity, identity and the vision of Africa’s future.

“Angola and Mozambique had to wage an armed struggle against the Portuguese colonialism. South Africa had one of the more heroic struggles to free itself from the horrors of apartheid. Namibia and Zimbabwe equally have gone through a heroic saga to win their inalienable rights to independence. These struggles were successful because we did not fight alone.”

He concluded by stating that “The African Union is not just a utopia, be it political or economic, but, above all, a vision of the world that seeks to create to its citizens the pride of belonging to this continent full of promises of a cheerful future.”

The graduation ceremony was attended by many dignitaries, including former President Thabo Mbeki.