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More than 600 students are leaving the country to study in Algeria, Cuba , India , Indonesia, Malaysia and Russia under the Presidential and National Scholarships programme as the Second Republic intensifies the re-engagement and engagement drive.
Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Kindness Paradza, who was representing Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira, yesterday officiated at a send-off ceremony that was attended by hundreds of students headed for overseas universities drawn from all the countries 10 provinces taking cognisance of their diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
The ceremony was also attended by Chief Director-Presidential National Scholarships Dr Wadzanai Kachere Presidential from the Office of the President and Cabinet as well as all five ambassadors from the nations where the students will all pursue their studies.
The students will pursue courses in a many fields, including science, technology, agriculture, and commerce.
In the speech read on his behalf, Prof Amon Murwira challenged students to come back and proffer solutions to the country’s challenges.
“We expect you as students to come back as job creators and not as job seekers. There is no study area in which one can come back without innovative ideas,” Prof Murwira said. “Zimbabwe has rich natural environment that should be transformed in order to transform the lives of the citizens.”
The country, Prof Murwira said should get value from sending you abroad.
“We need to see the results of the investment that Government is going to put in you. Why should we continue to import machinery such as tractors and harvesters when you go out there to see these in the making? Why should we import drugs when you go out to study how these are made? It is not going to be business as usual when you come back.”
He also thanked all foreign ambassadors stationed in Zimbabwe for helping to arrange bilateral scholarships between their governments and that of Zimbabwe.
Chief director Dr Kachere said sending students to study abroad will further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between those countries and Zimbabwe.
“This, we are doing to strengthen and consolidate the partnerships that the Second Republic opened through its engagement and re-engagement drive. This drive will provide an opportunity for our students to go a gear up in technological development and implementation.
“The students that we are sending off have an ambassadorial role to the Department and the country at large. These students need to appreciate Government efforts in creating opportunities to educate its youth abroad as this promotes healthy relationships with the countries that embrace the country’s vision and thrust.”
She added that the participating international universities had consented to assist Zimbabwean students in creating bankable projects, innovations and cutting edge researches.
Speaking to The Herald, students and guardians hailed President Mnangagwa for his unwavering commitment to the field of education.
Dion Chiwanza of Hwange, who will study in Russia, said the President was really living up to his promises.
“The send off ceremony serves as a testament to our President’s commitment to leaving no one or no place behind,” he said. Our President publicly stated his support for public education and we are very grateful.”
Another beneficiary, Ms Tinotendashe Mbewe, who is set to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration in India at ADTIYA university said:
“This is a remarkable event in 2023 for Zimbabwe for it empowers us the emerging generation for the attainment of vision 2030,” she said. “We are quite grateful to President Mnangagwa, a generous man, for giving us the scholarships despite our backgrounds.”
Mrs Precious Ngwerume was equally excited that her niece would gain more knowledge throughout the course of the school year in Algeria.
“May the President continue this fantastic job because there are so many underprivileged people in our country, I am happy that my niece, who will study in Algeria, will greatly benefit from it,” she said.
The Presidential and National Scholarship Programme has over the years benefited thousands of students who have gone for university studies in countries such as Russia, South Africa, India and China.
Online Reporter