Online Reporter
President Mnangagwa is today expected to cap 2385 graduands at the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU)’s 23rd graduation ceremony at the institution’s campus in Harare.
The graduands will be conferred with degrees in disciplines ranging from Agriculture, Sciences, Commerce, Applied Social Sciences, Education, Arts and Heritage Studies, among others.
A total of 1217 females and 569 males are graduating with undergraduate degrees.
President Mnangagwa is set to confer masters degrees to 175 females and 141 males.
Scores will be also be conferred with diplomas and post graduates diplomas.
Scenes at the 23rd graduation ceremony at ZOU Hatcliffe Campus where President Mnangagwa is also set to commission an administration block
President Mnangagwa has arrived at ZOU main campus in Hatcliff for the university’s 23rd graduation ceremony.
He is welcomed by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Dr Frederick Shava, ZOU Vice Chancellor Prof Emeritus Paul Gundani, and Deans from various faculties
President Mnangagwa is set to commission the new administration, teaching and learning building at ZOU campus before conferring degrees to the graduands.
Graduation ceremony begins
Education 5.0 in motion: Prof Gundani
Vice Chancellor Prof Emeritus Paul Gundani has taken to the podium.
He begins by saying the success of graduands is based on the NDS 1 and heritqge based education ushered by the Government.
He also pays tributes on students and lecturers who passed on during the year.
He outlines some of the achievements by ZOU students who developed virtual reality projects, agriculture and transport applications.
He says students are the heart beat of the university.
“Their dedication to the community and the university is commendable,” he says.
He also says the building commissioned today will accommodate staff members in Harare and Chitungwiza.
Prof Gundani says over 1833 people across the country have benefited from short courses provided by ZOU and the Angel of Hope Foundation.
He also says ZOU is setting up an ECD centre in Epworth to ensure that no one and no place in left behind in terms of access to education.
Prof Gundani highlights that the university has opened a clothing company that manufactures graduation regalia and branded clothing. This has saved the university about US$200 000 per year.
The university has also established a renewable energy enterprise that will turn bio methane gas into energy.
He also highlights the agro-park in Kadoma, which serves various disciplines, including Agriculture, Business, Engineering and Environmental Sciences.
President Mnangagwa confers degrees and diplomas to graduands
Among those graduating today is Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Tongai Mnangagwa. He is graduating with a Master of Social Science in Development Studies.
Vice Air Marshal Biltim Chingono is graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Development Studies.
Cde Dorothy Mabika, Zanu PF Manicaland chairwoman, is graduating with a Master’s Degree in Education Management.
