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President Mugabe said discord in the inclusive Government was impacting negatively on the economy.
“The yield of over 1 800 is an achievement considering that some of the things had to be done under very difficult circumstances.
“I have noticed you have disciplines which straddle the field of education . . . you have even gone beyond what we never anticipated you would do over such a short period.”
The President praised the partnership with the Africa Management Development Institute of Swaziland.
He said the collaboration cemented relations between the two countries.
President Mugabe said his brother’s son, Mr Michael Mugabe, who is now a prosecutor in Mutare studied in Swaziland.
“I had never capped Swazis before and now I can go and say to my friend (King Mswati) that I have capped your people. Let’s ensure that our university continues to strive to possibly be the best in the country or possibly be the best in the region.”
The President said he had for a long time told MSU Vice Chancellor Professor Ngwabi Bhebe to develop the institution.
He said sanctions delayed the completion of the project.
The Government, said President Mugabe, was determined to speed up the construction of MSU and the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe donated 30 computers to the institution.
Prof Bhebe hailed the assistance personnel at regional institutions gave to MSU’s first PhD graduate, Dr Samson Rwadzi.
He said MSU’s reputation continued to spread throughout the region, which had seen the institution attracting foreign students.
Prof Bhebe said the university had been affected by brain drain between 2007 and 2008.
“In an effort to mitigate this challenge, we have made significant strides to improve on the quality of our education delivery and we have also set ourselves on a trajectory with timeframed measures to
become a well-resourced institution of higher learning in terms of qualified staff,” he said.
Prof Bhebe said MSU was left with 210 Masters degree holders and nine teaching staff with PhDs, but the numbers have since risen to 386 Masters degree holders and 41 PhDs.
Prof Bhebe said MSU will now focus on building a four-storey library following the completion of the administration block.
The library will accommodate about 2 000 students at any given time.
Prof Bhebe said the first two floors of the library will be completed by next year.
He said the local fundraising initiatives had so far raised about US$2 million in cash and building materials.
Among the graduates were Herald reporters Lloyd Gumbo (Bachelor of Science in Media and Society Studies) and Felex Share (Bachelor of Arts in English and Communication.
Online Reporter