adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
LUPANE State University (LSU) has resolved to enter into private-public partnerships to complete its construction projects that will pave way for the relocation of the university to Matabeleland North province from Bulawayo. This was said by Vice-Chancellor Professor Pardon Kuipa on Friday during a media tour of the institution.
“We intend to relocate the university, which is currently operating from Bulawayo in January 2016. Initially we had hoped to have done so in June this year but due to economic challenges, our dream was shattered,” he said.
“From the $8,6 million the government budgetted towards the university’s construction, we’ve so far only received $1,6 million while Zimdef has provided $1,7 million towards the construction of the state-of-the-art university.” Prof Kuipa said he was appealing to companies to come forward and partner the university to finish constructing the university.
“With the stage we’re at right now, if we could have partners chipping in, we can be able to relocate soon. “Rentals from students and lecturers will allow quick re-imbursement of the funds. The billion dollar project which kicked off in 2005, has so far only managed to complete the faculty of Agriculture Science building and the women’s hostel which can be occupied by 364 students. That complete hostel will cater for both males and women when we open in January,” he said.
“The males’ hostel which also accommodates 364 people, the dining hall and the staff flats are half way through which is why we’re calling for partners to chip in for quick completion.”
He said 728 students and 12 lecturers will be accommodated at the university.
“The university will also rent out houses from [the Department of] Public Works in Lupane suburb, Jotsholo as well as Kenmaour, for staff who desire to live a distance from the campus. Buses will be made available to ferry them to and from work on a daily basis,” he said.
He said the university, which has a target to enrol about 10,000 students, started with only 37 students in 2007 and now has about 3,000 students, with 89 academic staff members and 219 non-academic workers. The vice chancellor said they were utilising borehole water.
“We’ve also applied to Zinwa to get raw water which we will be pumping directly from Bubi-Lupane dam. This will facilitate construction and agriculture purposes which we intend to highly partake in order to raise funds for the university,” he said.
“Our kitchens shall use steam for cooking while solar will be used for geysers and electricity for lighting and a few other functions only. This way, a lot of costs will be cut. “Currently the university offers studies in three faculties, Agriculture Science, Humanities and Social Sciences and Commerce out of the six intended ones,” said Prof Kuipa.
Online Reporter