Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
Nine students last week graduated from the University of Zimbabwe, completing their degrees with full scholarship from Fossil Contracting.
The group, consisting of five males and four females, represents the first cohort to graduate under the company’s scholarship programme.
The scholarship, which covers tuition, accommodation, a laptop, and drawing boards, is part of Fossil Contracting’s initiative to support human capital development in the construction and engineering sectors.
Currently, there are 41 university students on scholarship, while a combined 30 are primary and high school learners.
In separate interviews, the graduates expressed their gratitude to the company for assisting them realise their dreams.
“I would like to thank Fossil Contracting for supporting me through my journey as a student,” Kudakwashe Mutedzi, one of the graduates said.
“They assisted me with accommodation, tuition fees, a laptop, and drawing boards. We learnt a lot during our training at the Trabablas Interchange project and the Harare-Chirundu highway. We also had the opportunity to participate in various construction projects being undertaken by the company,” she said.
Another graduate, Ryan Liwala, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the impact of the scholarship on his education.
“From my first year to my final year, I was sponsored by Fossil Contracting. I want to thank Fossil Group CEO, Mr Obey Chimuka, for this opportunity, as well as the group human resources executive.
“The exposure we received through practical attachments was invaluable in preparing us for world-class construction,” he said.
“Some of us had 15 points from our Advanced Level studies, but we had nowhere to start from, and this scholarship came in handy in instilling hope in young people like us,” he added.
Tafadzwa Samuriwo, another graduate, said the programme played a huge role in assisting students from disadvantaged communities.
“I am proud to have graduated with the support of Fossil Group. The experience we gained was immense and has equipped us well for our future careers,” she added.
Fossil’s Group human resources executive, Mr Caleb Garura expressed satisfaction with the programme’s success.
“This is the first group to graduate under the scholarship programme, making this momentous. Of the nine graduates, six are men, but tragically, one lost his life in a car accident two years ago.
“We also celebrate the four ladies who graduated, which aligns with our commitment to girls and women empowerment, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said.
“We also celebrate the four ladies who graduated, which aligns with girl child education and women’s empowerment, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Mr Garura also emphasised Fossil’s commitment to human capital development: “We have taken care of all the costs associated with their studies. During vacations, we deployed them to various construction sites for practical exposure and also trained them on soft skills through a 10-week programme. We aim to groom complete engineers,” he added.
Fossil Contracting is involved in various other social responsibility activities, including paying fees for orphans and the children from disadvantaged families.
