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Zimbabwean prophet Walter Magaya‘s National Diploma from the University of South Africa (UNISA) has sparked heated controversy online.
The diploma came under scrutiny after Magaya submitted it to the High Court of Zimbabwe to challenge his disqualification from running for ZIFA president.
He was barred from the race for not possessing the required five O’ Level passes but argued that ZIFA’s rules allowed for “any equivalent educational level.” As evidence, he presented a National Diploma in Marketing, reportedly issued by UNISA in October 2015.
Social media users quickly questioned the authenticity of the document, pointing out inconsistencies in its format, student numbers, and qualification codes.
Dissecting the UNISA Diploma
Outspoken commentator Kudzai Mutisi led the criticism on X (formerly Twitter), providing a detailed analysis of the document’s alleged flaws.
“This is not a National Diploma from UNISA,” Mutisi tweeted. “Folks shouldn’t do these embarrassing things. The numbers on the certificate HAVE MEANINGS!”
Mutisi highlighted discrepancies in the qualification code “NDSMN,” which he claimed belonged to a National Diploma in Safety Management previously offered by UNISA.
“UNISA and all South African universities phased out National Diplomas. The NDSMN cannot be the qualification code for this supposed diploma,” he explained.
The student number also came under fire.
“The number after the code: 5563732 is the Student Number. That number can be EASILY VERIFIED. It’s not valid and doesn’t belong to the alleged person,” Mutisi added.
Other users echoed these concerns. Azania (@Planck_B) noted inconsistencies with student numbers and timelines:
“How come 55 student numbers completed their qualifications in 2015? During 2014 second term – 2015 first term, students got numbers starting with 55. People who studied at UNISA around 2012-2013 had student numbers starting with 54. Something is not adding up.”
Certificate Design Under Scrutiny
Criticism extended to the formatting and design of the diploma. Mushaudhi (@Melfizzy) listed issues:
“UNISA logo fake. Space between logo and first paragraph. Bold font on National Diploma. Fake signatures. Date of graduation October vs actual June date. No watermark on certificate stamp.”
Mutisi further pointed out irregularities in the signatures on the diploma, claiming they didn’t match those of the Vice Chancellor and Registrar in 2015.
Calls for Clarity From UNISA
Amid the uproar, many urged UNISA to clarify the matter. Thabisa Sibanda (@SibandaSibbs) called for the court to demand additional evidence:
“The Court must ask for a transcript of that diploma. I want to see something.”
Some users alleged criminality. @matigary asked:
“@adv_fulcrum is your client Walter Magaya putting a legitimate UNISA diploma before the courts? Did you verify that the diploma you filed before the courts is legit? Could you and Magaya be perjuring yourselves?”
A Growing Scandal
The controversy has captivated Zimbabweans on social media, with many alleging forgery and contempt of court. Calls for an official statement from UNISA have grown louder as questions about the diploma’s authenticity persist.
For now, the scandal remains unresolved, with the public eagerly awaiting further developments.
What do you think about this alleged UNISA forgery?
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