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Fungai Lupande-Mash Central Bureau
The relationship between China and Zimbabwe has opened doors to tertiary education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds after the China-Zim Exchange Centre paid school fees for 10 students at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE).
The 10 have big dreams of improving the rural communities they come from.
This opportunity is a dream come true for Keane Chidzura (24) from Rusambo village in Rushinga.
Chidzura, who is a chemist, designed a pyrolysis system while doing Ordinary Level at Marry Mount High School, but could not explore and modify it further because he had to start working after secondary education.
“The plant that I designed produces synthetic oil from plastics. It can be used to manage waste and reduce plastic pollution and it won first prize at district and provincial exhibitions,” he said.
“I was scheduled to attend the national competition in Bulawayo and the event was postponed due to Covid-19. Now that I have been given this opportunity to attend tertiary education at a time when innovations are treasured, I am very happy.
“I am doing agriculture engineering. I want to help my community by designing agriculture equipment and making life easier for them. I am yet to modify my plant using the innovation hub.”
Chidochaishe Chinogurei (23) and her cousin Precious Mavedzenge (21) come from Hoya village in Muzarabani.
Chidochaishe is doing agriculture economics and management.
“I did my Advanced Level in 2010 and attained 14 points but I could not proceed to university due to financial constraints. Every child’s wish is to go to university but I could not, this is a dream come true,” she said.
“I come from a broken family and I have seen the struggles of a single mother. I never wanted to get married young before I was empowered.
“I want to become an entrepreneur in the agriculture sector so that I can improve the lives of other girls. Climate change needs new methods of farming.”
Precious said she wants to become a role model for girls in Muzarabani.
“Many girls drop out of school and some enter into child marriages. I am doing safety health and environmental management and I want to get involved in mining activities happening in Muzarabani, especially the oil and gas explorations,” she said.
Melissa Mashata (23) from Nyazura who is in communication science said from Grade 6 she started doing piece jobs for school fees.
“I remember going to school in a torn uniform and I had to wear a skirt underneath. Things were very hard and I started working for my school fees from Grade 6,” she said.
“I managed to write Ordinary Level by the grace of God after it turned out that my employer did not pay fees from Form 1. I started working as a housemaid before a well-wisher paid for my Advanced Level.
“I had no hope that I would write Form 4 and when God blesses me I want to reach out to girls growing up in situations like mine.”
China-Zim Exchange Centre general manager Mr Donald Rushambwa said the China-Zim Friendship scholarship programme started in 2020 after the advent of Covid-19.
He said education is the cornerstone of the development and attainment of vision 2030.
“Extending this scholarship to underprivileged students empowers them to develop the country. This programme also strengthens the China-Zimbabwe relationship due to an influx of Chinese business people settling in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“The Chinese business people are bringing with them new technologies and we want to increase knowledge and skills transfer. The 10 students that we are supporting here will have attachment opportunities at Chinese companies.
“We want to capacitate Zimbabweans so that Zimbabwe is developed by Zimbabweans. We will expand the programme to more students and BUSE is our fifth university.”
Co-founder Mr Shan Jin said the education systems in China and Zimbabwe are different with China more focused on academic work.
“Zimbabwe is on both academic and skills development. We are trying to understand the culture here in Zimbabwe and get involved with the community,” he said.
“We want to pass down skills so that we can build Zimbabwe together. We have helped over 200 students from primary up to tertiary education.
“We have also sent scholars to China to further their studies. At least four of them are working in China, others are there for attachment.”
Online Reporter