Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
ALL is set for the official commissioning of the new state-of-the-art Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Midlands State University (MSU) Law School in Kwekwe today, which coincides with the university’s first-ever graduation ceremony to be held outside its main campus in Gweru.
President Mnangagwa will preside over the historic event, which will showcase the strides achieved by MSU under the Second Republic. The university already has campuses in Zvishavane, Harare, Botswana and is incubating a university in Swaziland as part of its global expansion.
Named after President Mnangagwa, who is a lawyer by profession, the law school was built on land donated by Kwekwe City Council and features cutting-edge facilities, including an e-library and a Moot court.
The facility will provide law students with invaluable practical experience, research skills and an understanding of court proceedings.
It will also accommodate the faculties of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as the Built Environment. The new campus has sparked significant development in the area, transforming what was once a rural landscape into a thriving commercial hub.
A striking building now stands tall, and the road from Kwekwe’s central business district to the campus has been upgraded, benefiting local farmers and commuters.
The two-storey building boasts an impressive array of facilities, including 110 rooms such as lecture theatres, moot courts, a library, accommodation, a kitchen, a medical centre, and staff residences.
As preparations for the commissioning and graduation ceremony were finalised yesterday, the campus was bustling with activity as various teams were putting the finishing touches.
Thousands of enthusiastic students had also gathered for rehearsals ahead of the graduation ceremony, while seating areas for distinguished guests, officials, parents and graduates had also been set up.
Dr Gift Manyatera, MSU Pro Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Campus Development, was brimming with enthusiasm, announcing that the campus construction was now fully complete.
“The construction of the campus is done, it’s now at 100 percent and we are excited to be hosting our Chancellor, President Mnangagwa who is going to commission the campus, as well as presiding over the graduation ceremony tomorrow (today),” said Dr Manyatera.
“This is a tremendous project and we are grateful to the Government for such a state-of-the-art Law School, which we have the vision to grow into a Centre of Excellence in offering legal education in the region.”
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Owen Ncube, said the Government is impressed by the infrastructural development, which dovetails with the National Development Strategy (NDS 1). “All is set for the Midlands State University graduation ceremony and commissioning of Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School by President Mnangagwa tomorrow (today),” he said.
Minister Ncube said the state-of-the-art Law School is part of the Second Republic’s broader effort towards improving education infrastructure in the country, underpinned by the modernisation and industrialisation agenda.
He said the swift and seamless completion of the remaining on-site and off-site scope of works had been done well before the scheduled date for the two events.
“l commend the sterling efforts by all the stakeholders and contractors who have managed to accomplish the following milestone achievements, which include the installation of a 500KVA transformer…
by ZETDC, completion of 3.2km gravel roads by RIDA, grading of Kwekwe – Silobela Road up to the campus turnoff by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development,” said Minister Ncube.
“From the turnoff, JR Goddard primed the road leading to the campus, paving of car parks, brick varnishing, lawn planting in the courtyard and outside the building, roofing of ablution blocks for guests, with partitioning and plumbing works done.”
The developments at the Law School have also generated excitement within the Kwekwe community, which sees the institution as a catalyst for both academic excellence and economic growth in the Midlands province.
Kwekwe Town Clerk, Dr Lucia Mnkandla, expressed her delight with the project, stating that it is expected to draw significant investment to the city.
“We are thrilled about the project, as it will accelerate development in Kwekwe,” she said.
“By donating land for the MSU law school, we anticipate a boost to the local economy through new businesses and increased revenue for the city council. This milestone achievement under the New Dispensation has cemented Kwekwe’s status as a prime investment destination.”
Kwekwe District Development coordinator, Mr Fortune Mpungu, said the university will bring development to Kwekwe.
“This project will bring development to Kwekwe as more supporting infrastructure, like shopping malls and houses to accommodate the students, will have to be constructed,” he said.
A real estate agent, Mr Amos Nyoni, said they expected a boom in the real estate sector because investors and students will definitely need accommodation and other amenities.
“It’s a new dawn for us here in Kwekwe. I foresee a boom in the real estate industry. A lot of people will be seeking accommodation, and we will definitely benefit from all this,” he said.
Ms Amanda Runesu, a resident, said Kwekwe, as a city, is attracting investments, which will, in the long term, benefit the residents.
“Our city is on a massive growth trajectory. The project has put our city on the map. The future of Kwekwe and the Midlands province is indeed bright. We are in the right direction,” she said.
An excited parent said: “As you are aware, the law school used to be at the University of Zimbabwe before the programme was decentralised. Today we are happy and proud as a province, as our children and we can get the best in law right on our doorsteps.”
Bongani Ndlovu