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Jonas Zvobgo Vice Chancellor of the Great Zimbabwe University.
Prof Zvobgo (63) becomes the second GZU Vice Chancellor after taking over from Professor Obert Maravanyika, who was the university’s founding Vice Chancellor.
Before his appointment, Prof Zvobgo was Pro-Vice Chancellor at Midlands State University where he deputised the institution’s Vice Chancellor Professor Ngwabi Bhebe for 13 years.
Speaking after his installation yesterday, Prof Zvobgo said he was ready for the challenge to lead Great Zimbabwe University.
He expressed gratitude towards President Mugabe for showing confidence in him.
“I want to express my profound gratitude to his Excellency President R G Mugabe for giving me this opportunity to lead Great Zimbabwe University and I want to assure you all that failure is not an option.
“I feel deeply honoured with this appointment to be the new Vice Chancellor of Great Zimbabwe University and my immediate task is to make sure that our programmes reflect our niche area of being a world class centre for arts, culture and heritage studies,” said Prof Zvobgo.
He paid special tribute to Professor Bhebe for mentoring and teaching him during the 13 years he served under him in the Midlands.
Prof Zvobgo also paid tribute to the late Higher and Tertiary Education and national hero Minister Stan Mudenge for recommending him to President Mugabe for the appointment.
He also paid tribute to his parents, especially his late father Reverend Mudadirwa Jonas Zvobgo, for inculcating the virtues of education in them, leaving a legacy of learning in the Zvobgo clan that will
transcend generations.
Great Zimbabwe University council chairperson Advocate Simplicio Chihambakwe said Prof Zvobgo was the best person to be the institution’s vice chancellor owing to his vast experience in running tertiary institutions.
Adv Chihambakwe said Prof Zvobgo played a crucial role in transforming Gweru Teachers’ College into Midlands State University.
He said serving as the latter institution’s second in command for 13 years readied him for the challenge to transform Great Zimbabwe University into a word-class institution of higher learning.
Adv Chihambakwe said Prof Zvobgo would steer the university into a reputable institution of higher learning with a bias towards arts, culture and heritage studies.
Online Reporter