Did Mugabe ask the University for this degree in the first place? Mugabe's own myopia has resulted in this saga.

He should have declined this "honour" as (clearly) blackmail and bribery comes in all manner and form. In the interest of self-determination, free-thinking Africans with political aspirations should take note...

Shumba Muroori, London, UK

It surely begs the question why he was awarded it in the first place. Do universities simply take the words of our politicians? Or does just adding the title "Lord" in front of a name guarantee that their pronouncements will be actioned without any investigation into the recipient?

Bob Finbow, Haverhill, England

Takes a long time for this to happen....probably they are too busy boycotting Israeli academics to attend to the brutal dictators sporting Honorary Degrees

TomTom, Leeds, England

UK never supported Mugabe during the Liberation war, Mugabe was supported by arms from China, Russia, Tanzania, Romania and Norway.

But now they the UK claims that they supported him, thus not true and every body knows that UK makes a lot of complains, lots of promises and then throw it in the dust bin. Mugabe has solid support in Africa particularly South Africa and he is the only hope for them to regain their land.
Right now South Africa`s 80% of fertile Land is just in the hands of a few whites, same as Namibia.

Linia Muteta, Dover, UK

History will record that Carrington was one of the worse Foreign Office Ministers in modern times, this i just another example of his poor judgement and performance in office.

Peter Trigg, London, Uk

read the comments above - some funny people online - live in saudi saving for a crazy deposit on house prices to reach many times earnings which also covered here - and managed a wry smile. perhaps dhl could provide the return free of charge?

paul, al khobar, saudi arabia

Yay!!!! Someone with some sense!!!

Alice, Moscow,

A little bit late it seems if the less educated amongest us can see better then have our eyes clouded by learning ,it seems if the degreed people all pat one another on the back and are so educated that they cannot see the wood from the trees. Most leaders in the world today belong to the same old boys club africa is a failure the ANC is condesending to Mugabe where is the worlds outcry against Africa's RACISM

Deon Botha , Richards Bay, South Africa

I read with intrest your latest on Mugabe. The UK and Cronies foisted, and backed him against the Smith regime, which at the time seemed benevolent. You forced a monster that turned a small productive country into a
squalid, backwater terror ridden place for blacks, and
whites alike. One can only hope there is some truth to
the judgment day fable. when your ill concieved do
gooder intentions will be weighed against all the deaths,
poverty and anguish your meddling has caused.

E.Seivers, St.James, Us/Fl.

I think the UK is going to far when it comes to Zimbabwe, is Mugabe the only human right breaker in this world?

I am sure you this man is an Angel , the whole world will see this and God will use him to right the wrongs of the past committed by the west.

Rusununguko, London, UK

“It says to all dictators that no matter how reputable a past they have, they are unable to act with barbarity and impunity.”

Bring out the comfy chair...

Antoine, Amsterdam,

...and how about getting him to give back all the aid he has stolen?

Horace Horsecollar, Spleen, Ohio

it is all rather political

abraham, bandar seri begawan, brunei

“It says to all dictators that no matter how reputable a past they have, they are unable to act with barbarity and impunity.”"

Yes, that will stop him - you can sense his fear.

BS, Nairn,

Now the next step is to strip him off the Zimbabwean presidency!!

Lets go,its now or never.

Asher Tarivona Mutsengi, CALGARY, CANADA

“It says to all dictators that no matter how reputable a past they have, they are unable to act with barbarity and impunity.”

No, it will say that we will send you a letter asking if you will pretty please give back a piece of paper we gave you and that you have no obligation to return.

Samuel, Oxnard, USA

Although Mugabe will dismiss this as inconsequential, it'll actually sting him. He loves everything British.... hell hath no fury like a lover scorned.... I live next door to his new Chinese palace and have been studying him carefully. It won't change much of course, and I shall probably be hung out to dry by the Stazi, but.... well done! What took you so long?

Name withheld by request, Harare , Zimbabwe

dedesertman, it's st andrews that gave khatami the honorary degree.

and i think you'll find he's slightly less of a waste of carbon than mugabe.

mpe, Naperville, IL

For Edinburgh University to deny it knew what was going on in 1983 and 1984 is ridiculous - There was widespread publicity about the forceful suppression of dissent and civilian massacres. These were widely reported in the international press, with Mugabe even making public denials.
Both Amnesty International and the Catholic Commision for Justice and Peace publicised their concerns at the time, but to no avail. A Commision of enquiry into the atrocities was set up in 1983 (the Chimbabakwe Commision) but although this collected considerable evidence the Zimbabwe Government refused to allow its conclusions to be released.
The Senate of the University of Edinburgh certainly had the ability to establish some of the facts concerning the situation in Zimbabwe at the time - it obviously just never bothered its backside. Having replaced the pariah regime of Ian Smith, Mugabe was flavour of the month and clearly could do no wrong in many people's eyes. This is too little too late.

David Thompson, Manchester, UK

Mugabe must be absolutely devastated......

KK, Maidstone, England

Mugabee does not need those degrees in order to survive. Stripping him of the degrees will not hurt him at all. What he needs now is political security, money, food and what it takes to control the hyper inflation.

Sam Danso, Romford, U.K.

How could the University NOT know about the atrocities being committed in Matabeleland back then. I remember at the time daily reports on BBC Africa Service, some of them eyewitness reports, of the atrocities being committed by the North Korean trained Fifth Brigade. There were reports in the British newspapers also. I agree with Rob, this is just pure hyprocrisy - when the mass killings occurred in Matabeleland, Mugabe was showing his political colours then, but everyone in the West chose to ignore it!

John, DFW, TX, USA

This is an eminently practical step, the ramifications of which will immediately be seen across Africa. Let this be a lesson to other Tyrants: Your fake degrees are under threat! Don't do Genocide!

Jack Thursby, Sheffield, UK

And so what?

Ovie Imoni, Calabar, Nigeria

Not only is he Jewish, he seems to have grown a Hitler moustache too.

starling, Lancaster,

When will LSE withdrew their degrees?

DavidN, Melbourne, Australia

and is the university also going to withdraw it,s degree from the other charlatan mr *talk between the "civilizations"
also known as khatami?don,t you see that these are just fig leaves these dictators put upfront in order to hide their crimional faces?or is it because in 1984 maugabe was doing good business with the west and now business not so good?

dedesertman, london, england

Dangerous...very dangerous

Will Pritchard, York,

This is utter nonsense and hypocricy. The university gave Mugabe this degree at a time when he was butchering his own people but gladly promoting white commercial interests in the country. Its convenient to take away the inconsequential degree now. What does this change? Shame on Edinburgh university.

Rob, Moyana, South Africa

The speed with which this university has acted is breathtaking. It reminds one of Hamlet. And Mr. Blair approved, when I thought all he was doing was helping Mr. Bush build up an arsenal in Europe

Jimbo, Blanquefort, France

Isn't it ironic that Mugabe is being stripped of the degree 20 years after the massacres ended yet he was awarded the degree at the height of the massacres especially when there are fresh allegations that the British may have instigated the massacres?

Charles Rukuni, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

This is long overdue - it was beyond belief that he was awarded one in the first place & it is inconceivable that the powers that be didn't know about the policies in Zimbabwe at that time!

What really is worrying is that "Lord Carrington, the former Foreign Secretary" made the recommendation. What was he thinking or was he just another minister who was so out of touch with reality that he didn't know otherwise?

It makes a mockery of the whole thing . . .

Dee, Midlands,

It`s about time the world woke up to the crimes of this power crazed murderer. Africa would be a better place without him & his like.

K. Woodhouse, Lincoln, England

About time too !!!

Emrys Sparks, Potton, Beds

This is quite a shock. I didn't know that Mugabe was Jewish.

Robert, Bakersfield, California, USA