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(LSU).
Out of the 62, 17 were the first crop of Masters’ students from the Department of Development Studies.
A total of 114 students also graduated with diplomas in different disciplines.
The students were drawn from the two Faculties of Agricultural Sciences and Humanities and Social Sciences.
Among the graduates was the Deputy Minister of Public Service and Insiza North MP Cde Andrew Langa who graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours Degree in Development Studies and Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo who graduated with a Masters Degree in Development Studies.
The colourful graduation ceremony began with the academic procession at around 2pm, in which President Mugabe who is also the Chancellor of all State universities participated.
The President was accompanied by LSU Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr MacLean Bhala, Cabinet Ministers Francis Nhema and Dr Ignatius Chombo (the acting Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education) Governors Cain Mathema of Bulawayo and his Matabeleland North counterpart Thokozile Mathuthu.
Not to be left out were academics from sister universities and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education, Dr Washington Mbizvo, senior officers from the uniformed forces, MPs Clifford Sibanda (Bubi), Martin Khumalo (Lupane West), Chiefs Mabhikwa and Shana.
The Zimbabwe National Army band and the LSU choir kept the large gathering, which comprised students, parents, school pupils and villagers, spellbound with their captivating musical presentations.
In his report Dr Bhala said LSU has made a lot of successes despite the challenges it was facing.
“We had a very stressful academic year but we managed to register significant growth as a university. Our enrolment has improved from last year’s 1 063 to 1 757 with female students constituting 53 percent. Female subscriptions are very high especially in the humanities and social sciences field,” said Dr Bhala.
“However, there is low enrolment in sciences. The university has 60 academic staff and 153 support staff members. Only 12 percent of our academic staff are holders of doctorate degrees and we are engaging the ministry to get more PHD holders.
“We have expanded our programmes by introducing the Centre for Continuing Education. We also need more land to promote our agricultural activities especially irrigation.”
Dr Bhala appealed to President Mugabe to facilitate the speedy completion of the construction of the university campus to allow the institution to operate from Lupane.
At the moment the university is operating from the National Railways of Zimbabwe premises, which it is renting.
“We are pumping a lot of money for rent in Bulawayo and we plead for necessary resources to expedite the construction of the university so that we can transfer to the campus,” said Dr Bhala.
At the moment the university’s administration block and the Faculty of Agriculture building have been completed while students’ hostels are still under construction.
Online Reporter