MSU law school takes shape in Kwekwe

Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]

THE construction site of the proposed Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School at Midlands State University (MSU) in Kwekwe was a hive of activity last Thursday as workers toiled with determination to bring the ambitious project to life.

The air was filled with the rhythmic sounds of hammers striking metal and machinery whirring, an indication of the workers’ commitment to completing the state-of-the-art institution.

When Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube arrived at the site, accompanied by Government officials and journalists, he was met with an electrifying atmosphere of progress.

His visit was part of a media tour organised by the Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, to showcase transformative projects in the Midlands Province since the advent of the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa’s leadership.

As the sun cast long shadows over the expansive site, over 300 workers pressed on with their tasks, their sweat-drenched faces reflecting the pride and purpose that drove them.

Some pushed wheelbarrows laden with concrete, while others meticulously laid bricks or wielded welding torches. The transformation of what was once a forest into a thriving centre of academic excellence was unfolding before their eyes.

The proposed Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School is envisioned as a beacon of legal education, drawing bright minds from across Zimbabwe and beyond.

With a capacity to accommodate 600 students, the institution is set to elevate the country’s legal landscape while standing as a tribute to the President’s dedication to education and national development.

MSU Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Infrastructure and Campus Development, Dr Gift Manyatera, who led Minister Ncube on a tour of the facility, expressed gratitude to Kwekwe City Council for donating the 220-hectare piece of land for the project.

The campus will not only house the Faculty of Law but also faculties of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as the Built Environment.

The self-contained, double-storey campus will feature lecture rooms, moot courts, a library, hostels, a kitchen, a hospital, and staff quarters, among other essential facilities.

“The Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School is the brainchild of His Excellency, the President. The state-of-the-art facility is being built to match the high standards expected of one of Africa’s top law schools,” said Dr Manyatera.

He said construction started in 2023 and is now 65 percent complete, with major progress made on the main building’s four sections.

“Expansion under phase one is ready for roofing, with engineers from Masvingo Polytechnic currently working on it. Treasury has been consistently releasing funds, and we are satisfied with the project’s trajectory,” said Dr Manyatera.

With the expectation to relocate staff and students by August, MSU is gearing up for a significant academic shift.

Dr Manyatera said the modern infrastructure will include all necessary facilities befitting a leading law school in Africa.

“Our Faculty of Law has consistently ranked among the best on the continent. This new campus is also a tribute to President Mnangagwa’s contributions to the country’s legal system,” he said.

Responding to Minister Ncube’s inquiry about worker remuneration, Dr Manyatera assured that the 300 employees on-site were being paid well, contributing to the positive momentum of the project.

Currently, MSU enrols 120 undergraduate law students per year and offers two master’s programmes with 30 students annually.

“We plan to move our master’s programme here and introduce short courses within the next two to three years. Your presence here allows us to share in our progress, and we are committed to completing this race successfully,” he said.

Minister Ncube commended the law school’s naming in honour of President Mnangagwa, acknowledging his extensive contributions to the country’s legal framework, from his role in drafting the Constitution to reforms such as open prisons, court decentralisation, and advocacy for abolishing the death penalty.

He said President Mnangagwa’s legal expertise and reforms have left an indelible mark on the justice system, hence the law school is a fitting tribute to his legacy.

“President Mnangagwa also provided legal counsel during the crafting of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and the reforms he introduced under his tenure as the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, among them the establishment of open prisons, decentralisation of courts to sub-national levels,” said Minister Ncube.

“He also advocated for the abolition of the death penalty, having survived the death penalty during the liberation struggle on a technicality.”