09.49 – President Mnangagwa, who is also Chancellor of all State Universities, is today expected to preside over the 22nd graduation ceremony for the Zimbabwe Open University where 3320 graduands in several disciplines will be capped.
There are 2154 female graduands while 1166 account for male graduands.
09.57 – The graduands are from several academic disciplines that include the following faculties, Agriculture, Science, Technology, Commerce, Applied Social Sciences Education, Arts, Culture and Heritage Studies.
There are also affiliate colleges whose students are equally set to graduate. They include Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Theology (Domboshawa), Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Theology, Bachelor of Arts Special Honours in Theology (Theology College of Zimbabwe).
The ceremony is being held at ZOU Hatcliff campus and it’s a hive of activity as graduands, their relatives and friends try to make their way into the campus. Long and winding queues for both human and vehicular traffic is glaring as the crowd has already swollen, notwithstanding the scorching heat that started to be felt early in the morning.
Some of graduands include the late Senator Lilian Timveous who will be capped posthumously with a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Development Studies, Zanu PF provincial Chairman for Masvingo Province, Senator Robson Mavhenyengwa will be graduating with a Master of Social Science Degree in Development Studies and a 78 year old Andreas Zvaiwa who will be graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling.
10.00 – Zimbabwe Open University graduation ceremony being held today, coincides with the University’s 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee).
The Silver Jubilee marks a quarter of a century, which symbolises innovation, refinement, sleekness and sophistication of the institution.
In a quarter of a century, ZOU has produced 53 170 graduates, delivered free training courses to 59 443 members across all the country’s 10 provinces.
Running under the theme, “Celebrating 25 years of unlocking human capital potential through open and distance e-learning.”
The theme appeals to the class of 2024 to leverage on their potential to realise the Vision of an upper middle middle income by 2030
10.55 – Some of graduate waiting to be caped at the Zimbabwe Open University in Hatcliffe in Harare today
11.03 – President Mnangagwa has now arrived at ZOU graduation Hatcliff venue. The procession team has already taken its position in readiness to proceed to the graduation tent with President Mnangagwa who is the Chancellor of State Universities. President Mnangagwa is currently in a briefing with ZOU management team led by Vice Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Gundani. Proceedings are expected to begin in earnest soon after the briefing.
11.08 – The Herald Editor Victoria Ruzvidzo left, The Sartuday Herald columnist Rutendo Gwatidzo graduating with Masters in Business Administration today at ZOU
11.24 – Cabinet Ministers in attendance include, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Fredereck Shava and Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere. The police Band now playing the national anthem. President Mnangagwa, as Chancellor of State Universities has declared the congregation as a duly constituted graduation ceremony. Vice Chancellor, Prof Gundani now delivering his speech outlining achievements, state of the university, its trajectory and issues to do with today’s graduation ceremony.
11.32 -Shiloh Machipisa aged 12 from SOS Hermann Gmeiner Primary School in Waterfalls performs a perform on the importance of education at the 22nd graduation ceremony
11.50 – Vice Chancellor Gundani said the University continue to offer several short courses countrywide in collaboration with the Angel of Hope ably led by the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.
12.06 – 209 student graduate with dinsctions
Vice Chancellor, Prof Gundani, said the female graduands constitute about 65 percent, showing that ZOU is continually developing the female gender to take up at least 50 percent stake in leadership positions as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
12.28 –He bemoaned the resignation of staff at the institution at all levels including full Professors. He said another challenge was the cost of data for research by students.He bemoaned the resignation of staff at the institution at all levels including full Professors. He said another challenge was the cost of data for research by students. Vice Chancellor Gundani has said 209 student will today graduate with dinsctions.
Also, 78 year old Andrea Vhaiwa who was a junior soldier to President Mnangagwa during the war will today be confered with a Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling.
To all the student graduating today, Vice Chancellor Gundani congratulated them all.Conferment of degrees by the Chancellor and President Mnangagwa is now set to commence soon after a musical interlude. Graduating students have now started taking positions in time to walk to the podium where they will be capped.
13.07 –Faculty of Applied Social Sciences sing along popular song Ebenezer by Rev Chivaviro while there were being capped by President and Chancellor of all State Universities Dr Mnangagwa earlier today.
13.42 –Conferment of degrees have ended and graduands burst into song and ululation as they sing popular song “Ebenezer” by renowned gospel musician, Reverend Chivaviro.
The Police Band then leads in instrumentals of a song by Mechanic Manyeruke called Makorokoto signifying the celebratory tone that has gripped graduates.President Mnangagwa now declares the ceremony for the conferment of degrees closed, signifying the end of the programme, now being wound by the playing of the National anthem by the Police Band.The procession led by the Chancellor now takes leave, as it heads for de-robbing. This marks the End. God Bless.
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