WATCH: Universities should take up international jobs

GOVERNMENT has urged local universities to take up international construction jobs as they are proving to be capable of doing worldclass projects through the transformative works being done at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo.

Following the remodelling of construction works at higher and tertiary institutions where major construction is being done in-house, Nust is being transformed into a modern institution.

The deployment of university staff and students from institutions such as Bulawayo Polytechnic College has helped the university speed up projects that had stalled for years, including reducing the cost of construction by US$200 000 in the construction of the Technovation Centre.

The new facility will be the biggest innovation hub in the country and ideas will be transformed into finished products.

Higher and Tertiary, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, challenged the universities to consider taking on international projects in the construction sector as they are proving to be capable in what they are doing.

“In the future, I expect our universities to undertake international jobs, construct in neighbouring countries, and also in the international arena as we are gaining confidence,” he said.

“We are seeing possibilities and this is the path that we are going onto, which is a path of self-determination, of making sure that we are confident with ourselves and do things that we can do.

“We will also ensure that we attempt to do things that we cannot do currently until we are experts at it,” said Prof Murwira.

He said in the coming year they will assess if it will still be suitable to resume the construction of the Nust Library Building, which has been part of the structures that were left uncompleted for years.

“Nust used to be known for a hanging crane for 20 years but this crane has so far been removed. We are in the process of assessing the integrity of the Library Building and after we have completed the process, we are going to start the construction ourselves using Nust and its staff and staff from polytechnics to build our country. We believe we can do it and are already doing it,” said Prof Murwira.

He said President Mnangagwa has already endorsed the new construction model at universities as the approach has rejuvenated Nust’s development.

“So, we took a bold move under the authority of the President to take over ourselves through the Department of Works and Estates, coordinating polytechnics, to build our infrastructure. Now you can see that plans are there,” he said.

“We are going to finish the Technovation Centre and it is going to be the largest innovation hub in the country. Nust had one of the smallest innovation hubs in the country at the beginning but its development, basically, shows that the spirit of Nust is changing from a dormant place to a very active campus where people start to believe in themselves,” said Prof Murwira.

He said even the administration block courtyard has been redeveloped to fit into modern university standards. The Nust administration courtyard used to be dusty but has since been paved, giving a facelift to the university.

The minister said what was also critical under the model that has been adopted is that students no longer wait to leave the training institutions before they have hands-on experience of what is expected of them.

Prof Murwira said the ministry still has several projects that it is undertaking, which boost the skilling of learners including the construction of new higher and technical institutions where students are involved.

The Second Republic has managed to open colleges in Binga, Plumtree, and Hwange in the past five years as part of its efforts to spread higher and tertiary education to periphery areas.

“You’ll remember we were talking about a lot of things that we said will happen that we are going to build and start a polytechnic in Binga. It seemed like fiction but it is there now,” said Prof Murwira.

“We have even increased its transport capacity we bought a bus two weeks ago and Hwange (Teachers’ College) is going on, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic, Gwanda State University is going on, Great Zimbabwe University is going and Plumtree Polytechnic is going on.”

After touring the Nust Technovation Centre last Wednesday, President Mnangagwa said he was proud that students were involved in the construction works at higher and tertiary institutions as it was putting to action that only Zimbabweans can develop their country. — @nqotshili