Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba
THE construction of Midlands State University (MSU)’s Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School in Kwekwe is progressing well, with the state-of-the-art facility expected to open its doors to students by August.
The law school, a key component of MSU’s multi-campus strategy, is being built along the old Gokwe road on a 220-hectare piece of land.
The campus will house not only the law faculty but also the Faculties of Agriculture and Architecture, with a projected enrolment of over 1 000 students once complete.
Construction is 65 percent complete, with over 300 workers on-site and building materials already delivered. The main building which has four major sections, is now at roof level. The roofing is being done by engineers and students from Masvingo Polytechnic College.
The Emmerson Mnangagwa Law School will include a moot courtroom, library, lecture theatres, classrooms, staff offices and student accommodation. In the next two to three years, MSU also plans to introduce short courses and relocate its Masters programmes to the Kwekwe Campus, positioning it as a centre for advanced legal and multidisciplinary learning.
Speaking during a tour of the site, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Ambassador Frederick Shava, commended the university for its infrastructure drive, which is in line with the Government’s agenda.
“This is splendid work being done by the institution, opening campuses across the country. We are equally committed to developing infrastructure that can support and accommodate the innovation, research, and education emerging from our students so that they can meaningfully contribute to our national education goals,” he said
Amb Shava noted that the project is inline with the Second Republic’s thrust to modernise tertiary education infrastructure and promote a heritage-based curriculum that produces home-grown solutions to industrial and societal challenges.
MSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor Ngonidzashe Muzvidziwa, said the establishment of the law school in Kwekwe demonstrates the university’s commitment to inclusivity and national development.
“The law school will not only provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the law but also equip them with practical skills to address the complex legal challenges facing the nation.
“This will enable graduates to make meaningful contributions to the justice system, promote the rule of law, and advocate for human rights, ultimately fostering a more just and equitable society,” he said.
Prof Muzvidziwa said the integration of students into the construction project was part of the university’s hands-on approach to education.
“What we are providing our students is industrial exposure. Trussing is being done by Masvingo Polytechnic students and the work began in September last year. We expect completion soon,” he said.
Prof Muzvidziwa said the Kwekwe campus is poised to become a hub of academic excellence, research, innovation and community engagement, and is expected to play a significant role in driving sustainable development in the Midlands and beyond.
