adminLloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
Mashonaland East Province is edging closer to establishing a university after Parliament passed the Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Bill.
The Bill now awaits President Mugabe’s assent.
The National Assembly passed the Bill last week while Senate granted the nod to the establishment of the eighth State university on Wednesday.
Matabeleland South and Manicaland are the remaining provinces without a university.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Deputy Minister Dr Godfrey Gandawa, steered the Bill in the Upper House on Wednesday with senators applauding the development as critical for the country.
He said the university would primarily focus on agricultural sciences and technology which augurs well with the country since it has an agro-based economy.
Senators took turns to hail the establishment of the university in Mashonaland East province saying the bias on agriculture would go a long way in improving agricultural research and production.
They hailed Government for its policy on establishing a university in each of the country’s 10 provinces.
The upper House implored the executive to expedite the establishment of the remaining State universities in Matabeleland South and Manicaland.
The MPs across the political divide said the university must enrol students from all the country’s provinces on merit.
They called for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West to enable Government to construct several institutions of higher and tertiary education.
Deputy Minister Gandawa said the university in Mashonaland East province would go a long way in reducing unemployment in the province through the anticipated recruitment of teaching and non- teaching staff.
“The recommended niche areas of agriculture, sciences and technology are in line with economic activities of the province and the national agenda in agriculture and economic empowerment,” he said.
“The university will mount research projects that will bring out the rich heritage and resources in the province.”
Dr Gandawa said the university would be located at Cloverhill Farm, about 4km from Marondera town.
He said the 780-hectare farm had a dam with a capacity to hold over 59 million litres of water and had a Zesa transformer making it easy to supply electricity to the university.
Deputy Minister Gandawa said Cabinet had already approved Bills for State universities in Matabeleland South and Manicaland.
They now await parliamentary approval.
Online Reporter