Gwanda State University plans at advanced stage

By Thupeyo Muleya
Plans towards the implementation of the Gwanda State University (GWASU) have reached an advanced stage, a senior government official has said.
In an interview, the provincial administrator for Matabeleland South, Mr David Mpofu said feasibility studies had since been committed adding that the government last month set up a committee to work on the logistical issues into the project.
He said so far $10 000 had been availed towards the project.
Matabeleland South Resident Minister and Provincial governor, Cde Angeline Masuku is the university’s patron.
Mr Mpofu said the university will be temporary be housed at the Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College in the interim.
He said the university would offer degree programmes focusing mainly in livestock production and agriculture.
The university will be the first of its kind in the province as currently man people have to rely in universities in other provinces or make do with the Zimbabwe Open University which has a regional office in Gwanda.
The only higher education institute in Matabeleland South is the Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College which trains teachers and a few vocational courses and has been battling to meet the needs of students from the province.

“The programme had temporally been shelved in the last few years, but now plans have gathered momentum which saw the appointment of a new committee to work on the logistics and modalities to see the university opening its doors in the instant future.
“Initially the University was scheduled to open its doors in 2008 but the project was temporarily shelved owing to some financial constrains and other logistical issues.
“We are very happy that all is moving in the right direction. This new committee has specific roles to carryout and is made mostly of academics and other technocrats as far as issues of higher and tertiary education are concerned.
“As local leaders and concerned parties we have since carried out feasibility studies and also complied the requisite documentation which government has since approved. We will continue mobilising resources to ensure that the university’s structures are constructed as soon as possible”, he said.
He said the university would offer livestock production and agriculture degree programs since the province was the largest hub of animal husbandry and irrigation farming.
“This institution will come as a relief to students from this region who has to rely on universities from other provinces as far as Harare and Bulawayo for this kind of education. Such effort comes as a way of the government’s commitment to bring education to all of the country’s 10 provinces”, he said.
Meanwhile the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) is still also working towards opening up a satellite office in Gwanda to cater for students from Matabeleland South province.
www.herald.co.zw
30 May 2011