Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) is making significant progress in completing construction works on several long-stalled structures, thanks to a new approach that involves taking over from independent contractors.
This innovative model has not only revitalised the construction projects, after more than two decades, but has also resulted in savings of over US$200 000 for the university.
Riding on President Mnangagwa’s philosophy that ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’, Nust has taken over construction works in a new model where they are using their knowledge and skills, working together with the Bulawayo Polytechnic and other sister institutions to build state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Speaking during the university’s 29th graduation ceremony, Vice Chancellor Professor Mqhele Dlodlo revealed the latest development which has seen significant work being done at the technovation centre.
“Riding on President Mnangagwa’s philosophy, “Nyika inova nevene vayo! Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabakazi balo!” and with financial support from your Government, NUST made significant progress on infrastructural development projects.
“With guidance from the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, the University adopted a new model, which has seen NUST taking over all construction projects,” said Prof Dlodlo.
He said in a space of two years, the University is almost finished constructing the state-of-the-art Technovation Centre, which took independent contractors 15 years to reach 60 percent completion before they abandoned the project.
“Without the heavy equipment and machinery but armed with your philosophy, “Nyika inova nevene vayo! Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo!” and with our knowledge and skills, working together with Bulawayo Polytechnic and other sister institutions, we have built a state-of-the-art multi-complex using our own hands. Not only that, the new model of construction we adopted saw NUST realising savings of over US$200,000 through substitution of excessively designed finishes with simple top-class designs,” said Prof Dlodlo.
The adoption of the new model has seen the removal of heavy cranes which had been a trademark of the institution for more than 15 years signaling the stalling of construction works.
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