Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
THE ED-UNZA Scholarship Trust has transformed the lives of many disadvantaged, but talented rural pupils through the provision of educational support being spearheaded by President Mnangagwa.
Chairperson of the Trust, Mr Herbert Nkala, yesterday led a 10-member cohort of students to meet President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare after they were enrolled at the University of Zimbabwe under the programme meant to provide support for underprivileged, but talented students.
The President also welcomed some students who completed studies at the University of Zambia under the ED-UNZA Trust.
Under the programme, students from both Zimbabwe and Zambia study at local universities and the University of Zambia, with the Trust providing support.
In an interview after meeting President Mnangagwa, Mr Nkala said the programme continued to uplift the lives of young gifted persons in remote areas for them to realise their full potential.
“Today, we brought 10 students who are coming on to the August intake at the University of Zimbabwe and out of the 10, six are going to be doctors and the other ones are from engineering and other sciences,” he said.
“The main reason, of course, we must always remind each other as to why His Excellency the President founded this Trust and why it is called the ED UNZA.”
Mr Nkala was accompanied by ED-UNZA liaison officer, Mrs Farai Mlotshwa and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr John Mushayavanhu.
He explained that President Mnangagwa’s attachment to the University of Zambia stemmed from the fact that he studied for his law degree at the institution and completed it in 1975.
The creation of the Trust is part of his contribution to assist underprivileged children.
“His Excellency the President studied at the University of Zambia and when he became President, he brought us together, my fellow trustees here, to create a Fund to identify indigent students, students who are highly bright in our rural areas, in all our 10 provinces and send them to all our 13 universities here as well as to Zambia, and hence, UNZA,” said Mr Nkala.
“So, we are now approaching our target of 100 students who are under the scholarship Fund and most of the students are from the 10 provinces. We also have about 50-50 percent representation of male and female (students).”
He added that the Trust was impressed by the support it was getting from different benefactors who include businesspersons and ordinary people, among others.
“We can never have enough funding because we are telling the President that we get about 200 applications a year of eligible students.
“We would like to do more and this is all supported by members of the public, the business community (and other) stakeholders.
“There are a lot more deserving students out there that we would like to help,” said Mr Nkala.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa for the opportunity they got to realise their potential.
“I have completed my studies at the University of Zambia. I have been doing Agricultural Economics. I am indebted for the opportunity that I got to study.
“It is not something that I ever expected,” said Clyde Kasungasunge from Masvingo Province.
Another student, Hakutangwi Wimbiso, said she was happy to have been enrolled at the UZ.
“I am excited by the fact that I got an opportunity to study at UZ. I never thought I would get such a rare opportunity,” she said.
Another student, Phumulani Moyo from Bulawayo Province, said he will make sure he puts to good use the opportunity.
“I am going to study Biomedical Science at UZ. I am quite happy and indebted to President Mnangagwa for the opportunity,” he said.
The programme supports academically gifted yet disadvantaged students from both Zimbabwe and Zambia to pursue tertiary education in both countries.
Established by President Mnangagwa in November 2019 as an independent Trust to help indigent learners, the scope of the programme covers tuition, boarding and academic expenses.
It encompasses critical and specialised fields like medicine, law, actuarial sciences, electronic engineering, biochemistry and agronomy.
