Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
IN 2022, Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Animal Science student Mr Pride Mzinja deferred his studies after facing financial difficulties to pursue his academic career.
The then 22-year-old student from Nkayi District could only watch in agony as his dream of making a career in animal science slipped through his fingers.
It took a timely intervention by Gwanda State University (GSU) to save the situation and firmly put his academic aspirations back on track.
That year, the university introduced what is known as a “Work For Fees Programme” that is meant to assist students from less privileged families with funds for tuition.
The selected students are hired by the university to work and earn money to pay for their education.
Yesterday at the GSU 4th graduation ceremony at Epoch Mine in Filabusi, Vice Chancellor Professor Doreen Zandile Moyo explained to President Mnangagwa, who capped 69 graduates, how the programme has assisted multiple students to date.
“Your Excellency and Chancellor, we are exceedingly delighted to report that the number of students under the Work for Fees Programme increased from six in 2024 to 19 in 2025,” she said.
“The programme has immensely benefited students that were on the verge of abandoning their studies due to financial challenges,” said Prof Moyo.
In an interview on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony, the first student to benefit from the programme Mr Mzinja said he had lost all hope when he could not pay his fees and had to leave campus back in 2022.
“The university was impressed with my academic record and when I failed to pay tuition, and was forced to defer my studies, the management called and told me about a new programme called ‘work for fees,” he said.
“I was the first student to be accepted under that programme and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. I’m happy that today I stand before everyone as a testament that such programmes offer a lifeline to students who struggle to pay tuition,” said Mr Mzinja.
“This year the programme has grown to help 19 students who will also graduate one day and tell their own stories about how Gwanda State University gave them hope.”
Mr Mzinja lost both his parents at a young age and was raised by his grandparents. He graduated with a first class degree and was awarded the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award and walked away with US$1 000 for being the overall best graduating male student.
He also walked away with US$400 for being awarded the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award with the most innovative research project in the Department of Animal Production and Health.
Standing in front of thousands of people, who included parents and relatives of the graduates, Cabinet Ministers, politicians, and traditional leaders after being capped by President Mnangagwa is a memory that he will live with forever.
The GSU grounds were turned into an arena of celebrations as parents and relatives of graduates took to their feet in ululation as the 69 graduates took turns to take to the podium to receive their academic badge of honour from President Mnangagwa.
The ceremony was also attended by Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Dr Frederick Shava, the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, politicians and traditional leaders.
