adminOliver Kazunga Chronicle Reporter
GWANDA State University (GSU) is set to open early next year following the recent acquisition of a satellite campus at the disused Epoch Nickel Mine in Filabusi, an official has said.The university, which was launched in July failed to open for its first intake last month after the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development condemned Gwanda Show Grounds premises that had earlier been proposed to temporarily accommodate the university.
Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Abedinico Ncube said infrastructure at Epoch Mine was suitable for the development of GSU satellite campus.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa, who is also the Member of Parliament for Insiza and officials from the Filabusi Rural District Council and GSU, among others accompanied Cde Ncube during the tour of the district on Friday.
The delegation visited Epoch Mine, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot, Filabusi District Hospital and the yet-to be completed district registry offices complex.
“Infrastructure at Epoch Mine is nice and only needs to be spruced up so that the buildings there can be used as an administration block for Gwanda State University and hostels to accommodate the students.
“The refurbishment of the buildings there needs to be done as early as possible so that the university opens its doors come January,” said Cde Ncube in an interview after the tour.
He said construction of GSU was one of the many projects to be implemented by Government during the next five years.
Cde Ncube said once resourced are availed, work on constructing the university campus at the proposed site in Gwanda, will begin.
“We cannot wait for 20 years to build a university in Matabeleland South so we have decided as Government that in the meantime we can use the infrastructure at Epoch Mine. When funding is secured, the university will then be moved to the provincial capital as is the case with other provinces in the country,” he said.
At the GMB, the depot’s manager, Mr Farai Kadiki told the delegation that the parastatal would soon be relocating to its new site closer to the present premises it was renting from the rural district council.
The delegation later on proceeded to Filabusi District Hospital. Briefing the delegation, the district medical officer Dr Mandla Nkala said the institution was understaffed due to accommodation challenges.
“Under normal circumstances, we need 120 nurses, four doctors and four physiotherapists. However, due to accommodation challenges, we have 90 nurses, two doctors and two physiotherapists. We also have a shortage of drugs especially for no-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension (BP) and stroke,” he said.
Cde Ncube requested authorities at the health institution to put in writing its concerns so that he could take the issue up with the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa.
The delegation winded its tour by visiting the registry offices under construction.
“We will make a follow up through the Ministries of Home Affairs and Local Government, Public Works and Housing so that building of this complex is completed. Its completion is long overdue given that construction started 14 years ago,” said Cde Ncube.
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