Online Reporter
EXCITEMENT is soaring at the National University of Science and Technology as the institution gears up for its highly anticipated 31st graduation ceremony.
A total of 2,504 graduands are set to receive their accolades, with the distinguished honour of being capped by President Mnangagwa, the Chancellor of the university.
As preparations reach a fever pitch, the campus is abuzz with activity as graduands, along with their families eagerly anticipate the commencement of the ceremony.
Among the graduands are esteemed business people such as Mr James Ross Goddard, who is receiving a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Civil Engineering Honoris Causa, as well as ZITF chairman and renowned industrialist Mr Busisa Moyo, who is graduating with an Honorary Doctorate in Business Leadership.
Senior Reporter, Peter Matika and Obey Sibanda are attending the ceremony and will give us live updates.
Prominent businessman James Ross Goddard excited over conferment of Honorary Doctorate
Prominent businessman Mr James Ross Goddard has expressed his deep honour as he is set to receive a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Civil Engineering Honoris Causa at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) graduation ceremony.
Speaking on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony, Mr Goddard conveyed his gratitude for the recognition, underscoring the significance of the honorary degree in acknowledging his contributions to the field and beyond.
The conferment highlights Mr. Goddard’s impact on civil engineering and related industries, further cementing his legacy within Zimbabwe’s business and academic communities.
President Mnangagwa arrives for NUST’s 31st Graduation Ceremony
President Mnangagwa has arrived at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to preside over the institution’s 31st graduation ceremony.
A total of 2,504 graduands are set to receive their academic accolades during the event, with the special distinction of being capped by President Mnangagwa, who serves as the Chancellor of the university.
JR Goddard awarded Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Water Engineering
The founder and director of J R Goddard Contracting (Private) Limited Mr James Ross Goddard is today being awarded with a Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Water Engineering.
The construction tycoon established the firm in 1982 In Zimbabwe.
The Company specialises in earthworks, civil construction and infrastructure development.
The Company employs in excess of two thousand permanent staff.
Mr Goddard said he is dumbfounded to be receiving such an honour.
“I am truly amazed by this amazing recognition. I am grateful to the people of Zimbabwe for honouring me with this. I am at a loss of words but all I can say is this is truly amazing,” he said.
He said J R Goddard Contracting has an impressive record of completing more than 240 contracts in the last forty four years, reflecting his depth of experience and leadership in this sector.
“The Company excels in large-scale earthworks, civil construction, and infrastructure development, including the Construction of dams, roads, and other major projects. I personally supervised the construction of over 170 dams throughout Zimbabwe, among them numerous earth embankments, masonry and concrete arch dams for the agricultural sector,” said Mr Goddard.
Notable examples include Mpande Dam and Mtilashokwe Dam in Beit Bridge, Bembezaan Dam in Kwe Kwe. Rusitu Dam in Chipinge. Nabu Arch Dam in Insiza. How Mine Dam In Bulawayo, Biri Dam on the Manyame River, Mteri Dam at Hippo Valley, and Lucilia Poort Arch Dam at Unki Mine in Shurugwi.
Mr Goddard has also played a key role in overseeing the extension of Mater Dei Hospital and the development of Hopeville, an upmarket suburb in Northern Bulawayo.
JR Goddard Contracting is extensively involved in Zimbabwe’s mining industry and is currently engaged in the following Projects: Eureka Gold Mine for Dallaglio where they Mine up to 1,400,000 tonnes of waste and ore per month to produce approximately 170 kg of gold every month. Ngezi Zimplats South Pit Extension Project where they mine up to 700,000 tonnes of waste and ore per month.
ZITF Chairman Busisa Moyo awarded Honorary Doctorate in Business Leadership
Mr Busisa Moyo, chairman of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and a renowned industrialist, has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Business Leadership.
The honorary degree recognises Mr Moyo’s outstanding contributions to business development and industrial growth in Zimbabwe.
His leadership at ZITF has played a pivotal role in promoting trade and investment, fostering economic opportunities within the region.
Mr Busisa Moyo’s journey to being conferred Honorary Doctorate in Business Leadership
Prominent Bulawayo-based industrialist, Mr Busisa Moyo, has been awarded Honorary Doctorate in Business Leadership at the 31st NUST graduation ceremony currently underway in Bulawayo.
The award, is a milestone recognition of his outstanding business leadership credentials and contribution to the local economy and beyond.
Mr Moyo said he was excited by the accolade, which he regards as a positive reflection on the need to do more for all the organisations he represents across the nation and the region at large.
“It’s a mile marker, I didn’t expect it. But they took notice of what we do and what we have done and we can still do more,” said Mr Moyo, who is the chief executive officer of United Refineries Limited.
In a brief, Nust Vice Chancellor Professor Mqhele Dlodlo said URL’s story is about brands, our people, our passion, our achievements, our challenges, our resolve to never give, our hopes, the lives we touch and our pride as an innovative African company.
“From humble beginnings in the small town of Rusape, Manicaland, Zimbabwe, URL took their first steps as Rusape Oil Limited,” he said.
URL is one of Zimbabwe’s (big four) largest cooking oil refinery after Surface Wilmar Private Limited with a refining capacity of 12,000mt per year from soya bean seed and a combined 9,450mt per year for laundry and bath soaps and a further 30,000mt per year for stock feeds.
The company currently employs 263 full-time employees, along with seasonal workers, depending on the level of production activity, averaging 100 people each month.
It is one of the few manufacturing companies that remains operational at significant capacity utilization levels in the Southern Region of the country.
In addition to branded product lines, URL also produces soya meal and soya bean cake, which are ideal for poultry and pig production as well as soya bean hull (which is high in fiber and ideal for cattle, chicks and mushroom growing). These are by-products of the cooking oil manufacturing processes. Annual production of these by-products is 30,000 tonnes.
URL boasts a replete production facility valued at US$6 million. This plant has the second-largest production capacity in Zimbabwe of 12,000 metric tonnes. The company also has significant storage capacity of up to 18,000 metric tonnes.
