admin
The installation coincided with HIT’s inaugural graduation ceremony for the first group of degree students who enrolled in 2006.
President Mugabe capped the 85 graduands.
In his address following his installation by HIT Acting Vice Chancellor Engineer Quinton Kanhukamwe, the President said Zimbabwe would forge ahead with its home-grown economic solutions.
“Let us be mindful that our detractors would want us to continue lagging behind in technological advancement so that we remain in perpetual bondage to them.
“They would want us to embrace donor-driven development with strings and conditions attached. We say a big no to that slave mentality. Thus we are forging ahead with our own strategic solutions to all these challenges as we have already successfully demonstrated.
“The technological hegemony enjoyed by the West in the past is under serious challenge from the emerging economies of the East and it is Government’s desire to see Zimbabwe participating in these developments with the ferocity and tenacity of a bull terrier,” he said.
President Mugabe said Government had consistently strived to democratise higher and tertiary education and demystify science and technology since 1980.
“It is widely acknowledged that successive policy provisions adopted soon after the attainment of our hard-won independence in 1980 resulted in a massive and qualitative expansion of education.
“This expansion at all levels has since been consolidated by the country’s thrust and focus on the provision of quality higher tertiary education in institutions of higher learning.”
He pointed out that institutions like HIT, the National University of Science and Technology and Chinhoyi University of Technology should spearhead innovation in science and technology.
“The Harare Institute of Technology is given the mandate of being the leading institution in the development, incubation, transfer and commercialisation of technology and human capital development for greater national industrialisation.
“As your Chancellor, I will always be there to bear witness to the fulfilment of this noble concept,” the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said.
President Mugabe acknowledged assistance to HIT from the governments of China, India, Egypt and Korea.
Established in 1987, HIT was transformed into a university in 2005 specialising in science, engineering, technology, technopreneurship, business management sciences, professional and collaborative programmes including technical education.
Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Stan Mudenge, university vice chancellors and diplomats attended the ceremony.
HIT is Zimbabwe’s eighth State university.
Online Reporter