adminAddressing heads of Government departments during the handover of about 3 000 textbooks valued at $142 000 donated by World Vision in Gwanda town, Governor Masuku said the success of the new university hinged on collective stakeholder participation.
“The establishment of this university would not benefit Matabeleland South alone but Zimbabwe as a whole. We commend World Vision for extending a hand in such a noble project. It is disappointing that the business community and other non-governmental organisations are not here,” said Governor Masuku, who is the patron of the university.
“We urge them and other development partners to join us in this project. They are our stakeholders and they should emulate what World Vision has done.
“All of us have a role to play and collectively we will make this project a success. Everyone should contribute towards the project according their abilities. We should be ambassadors of this institution wherever we go and campaign for it.”
Governor Masuku said it was the Government’s responsibility to ensure that each of the 10 provinces in the country has a State university.
She commended President Mugabe’s Government for bringing education reforms, which have resulted in the establishment of several universities after independence.
At independence in 1980, Zimbabwe had only one state university, the University of Zimbabwe in Harare.
At the moment Matabeleland South, Manicaland and Mashonaland East are the only provinces in the country that do not have State universities.
The only university in Matabeleland South is the Seventh-Day Adventist Church-run Solusi University.
Governor Masuku said GSU was a step towards empowering ordinary people in the province through education.
She also challenged Government departments in the province to create a good working environment for their counterparts who were working for the new institution.
GSU designate Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sikhulumani Bayeza Mangena, also applauded World Vision for donating stationery, saying the books had already provided material for the university’s library.
“This donation forms the foundation of our library. The university is a fountain of knowledge and books form the backbone of academic work. We have received 161 boxes of stationery with about 3 000 volumes of textbooks valued at $142 000.
“These are modern books that are very relevant to our curriculum. It is as if we gave World Vision the order to donate such copies. They cover various disciplines such as agriculture, veterinary science, engineering, business management and entrepreneurship,” said Dr Mangena.
“The books also contain copies of digital video disks with practical illustrations that would assist a lot in the learning of our students.”
Dr Mangena said the new institution has already acquired administration offices and a venue for conducting lectures.
“The Ministry of Public Works has given us administration offices at Mtshabezi Building while the Gwanda Town Council has assisted us with a place for conducting lecturers at the show grounds,” said Dr Mangena.
“We now have books and we need a library to keep them. We will use manpower from the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) for a start and would recruit more as time goes on.”
Speaking at the same occasion World Vision southern region operations manager Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu pledged more assistance for the university.
He also urged other development partners to contribute towards the project.
“As development partners we should complement Government efforts in a project like this one. All of us should be part of the history of this university, which would transform the lives of people in this community and the country at large.
“When we heard about this project, we resolved to assist. When opportunity arrives, every one of us should provide resources and expedite this project,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Gwanda Mayor Councillor Lionel De-Necker said he was confident that the new university would be one of the best in the country given the support from different stakeholders.
“Gwanda is not a stranger in producing leaders and through this university, we would be create a legacy for future generations. I am confident and happy that this university would be the best.
“I also applaud the passion that Governor Masuku is giving to the project. I also call on all stakeholders to join hands in it. As council, we would also render more support for the university especially in terms of service delivery,” said Clr de-Necker.
Since its inception in 2004 the project has received a lot of support from community members, with some making pledges in the form of cattle.
Gwanda Town Council donated 87 hectares of land towards the building of the university on the eastern side of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic.
In December last year Vice-President Landa John Nkomo donated a two tonne tipper truck and 20 tonnes of seed to the new university.
The Government also donated 2,5 hactares of land in Filabusi to be used for farming activities.
Online Reporter