UB ’s academic shame

Deputy Vice Chancellor ( Student Affairs) at the University of Botswana Professor Martin Mokgwathi is in hot soup after it was alleged that he has plagiarised an undergraduate orientation speech. The speech Mokgwathi is alleged to have plagiarised was made by former Limerick University President Professor Don Barry while addressing prospective students during the welcome ceremony six years ago in Limerick, Ireland. Mokgwathi seemed to have grown fond of the speech and could not let the opportunity to spill out well-decorated words elude him as he repeated the same speech during the Orientation of the University of Botswana freshmen in August 2018. According to several sources that were part of the orientation ceremony, Mokgwathi blew everyone away not just with his eloquence on the podium but with a flawless speech that many claimed to have heard before. “Several professors claimed to have heard the speech somewhere. We became suspicious when we media students requested for the speech and he didn’t want to give it away,” said one media student at the University who was in attendance. Moreover, sources close to the matter say that a disciplinary hearing and harsh punishment awaits the renowned Professor. “The University of Botswana is a university of high reputation, many who have done this have seen the door and it’s highly possible that the Council can recommend the same for Mokgwathi,” said a source close to management in the school. Moreover, this publication is in possession of a letter addresed to the Vice Chancellor of the University by the Student Representative Council (SRC), requesting that allegations levelled against Mokgwathi be investigated. “By ignoring this scandal and sweeping it under the carpet, the University is sending a wrong message to students, stakeholders and the general public that plagiarism and academic dishonesty is tolerable in the University. “If these allegations are true and variable (sic), it is true that Professor Mokgwathi has put the good name of the University in serious disrepute. Further it is our considered view that his suspension be on full salary pending investigation and possible disciplinary hearing will be of public interest.” Reached for comment, Mogwathi ridiculed the allegations before citing that the issue is internal and therefore he cannot address it. He then referred us to the Director of Public Affairs. “It’s an internal issue so if there is someone to shed light over the issue it’s the Director of Public Affairs,” he said. Efforts to get a comment from the Director of Public Affairs Mhitshane Reetsang however hit a snag as she was not in her office. Mokgwathi was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor Student Affairs in January 2016, he succeeded Professor Lydia Nyati Saleshando who left at the end of 2015 when her contract expired. Mokgwathi has been with the university since 1986 and boasts a wealth of experience. He is also celebrated for crafting and establishing the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation in 1998, which he became its Director until 2000 when he left to become Head of Department of Physical Education.