Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
THE Midlands State University (MSU) has taken a significant stride towards revolutionising agriculture in Zimbabwe with the completion of an 8 million megalitre dam at its Pittscottie Farm.
The dam, which can irrigate up to 800 hectares of land, is set to transform the agricultural sector by increasing crop and livestock production and promoting sustainable farming practices.
The construction of the dam, which began in 2024 and was completed in 2025, is a testament to MSU’s commitment to timely delivery and institutional growth riding on Education 5.0.
MSU Acting Director of Marketing and Communications, Mr Kudakwashe Bhowa, said the dam is strategically located between Kwekwe and Mvuma, providing a stable water source for the university’s agricultural operations, benefiting the local community, region and nation at large.
“The Midlands State University has just completed a dam that has a carrying capacity of 8 million cubic metres of water. The dam can irrigate up to 800 hectares of land, transforming agriculture in the area, thereby contributing to the growth of the sector,” he said.
Mr Bhowa explained that the construction of the dam was a rapid and focused infrastructure project.
Demonstrating the university’s commitment to timely delivery and institutional growth, he said, the project moved quickly from the initial ground-breaking to full completion in 2025.
“The dam is located at Pittscottie Farm, the university’s largest agricultural landholding, and is set to revolutionise agricultural ventures. The benefits of the project extend far beyond the university walls, reaching local, regional, and national levels. The surrounding community will see a rise in employment opportunities and economic growth through increased agricultural production and potential tourism,” he said.
Nationally, Mr Bhowa said the dam supports the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) by boosting farming output.
Internally, MSU students will gain invaluable hands-on experience, while research units, such as the Tugwi Mukosi Multidisciplinary Research Institute, will use the site to pioneer new academic and practical breakthroughs.
Mr Bhowa said the development is set to transform the agricultural sector by converting 500 hectares of land into a high-yield horticultural zone.
“Applying advanced research and modern irrigation techniques, the university is moving away from traditional farming toward a more sustainable, year-round production model,” Mr Bhowa said.
He added, “The shift directly aligns with the Education 5.0 blueprint, ensuring that university research and resources are used to drive industrialisation and food security for the entire nation.”
MSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor Ngonidzashe Muzvidziwa, emphasised the university’s commitment to contributing to national development, saying, “Universities are like trees; their worth is measured not just by the height of their trunks but by the strength of their roots and the richness of the fruit they bear.”
He reiterated that the completion of the dam is a significant milestone for MSU, which has grown to become a comprehensive institution with 10 faculties, three research institutes, and two centres focusing on entrepreneurship and public policy.
Full article on www.sundaynews.co.zw
“These are not abstract achievements; they are working examples of Education 5.0 in action; projects that create jobs, strengthen healthcare, expand national and build local capacity,” he said.
With over 90 000 graduates, he noted that MSU is committed to converting its talent and goodwill into structured, measurable national value.
Prof Muzvidziwa said MSU is not merely educating but is, at the same time, implementing the national development strategy.
“As citizens of Zimbabwe, we must be producers, not only consumers. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” he said.
The VC called particular attention to the projects the university has established over the years that demonstrate practical impact on society.
“Our enterprise initiatives that commercialise campus inventions, the National Pathology Centre, which advances diagnostic capacity and supports national health outcomes, the OD Stores and other service-oriented ventures that link campus research to supply chains and our research and innovation institutes and hubs that incubate ideas and prepare them for the market,” he explained.
