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Prof Phineas Makhurane

Danisa Masuku, Chronicle Correspondent
GWANDA State University is now a fully fledged tertiary institution after 28 university council members were inaugurated recently.

The ceremony was held at the university’s campus at Epoch Mine in Insiza District, Filabusi, Matabeleland South province.

National University of Science and Technology (Nust) senior management led by Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Samson Sibanda handed over the University Act to the GSU council.

The de­ci­sion to sep­a­rate GSU from Nust by the Min­istry of Higher and Ter­tiary Ed­u­ca­tion, Science and Tech­nol­ogy De­vel­op­ment fol­lows Pres­i­dent Mu­gabe’s re­cent ap­point­ment of Univer­sity Coun­cils for nine state uni­ver­si­ties.

GSU council chairperson Professor Phineas Makhurane led the councillors in nominating the vice-chairperson and other committee members.

The council is led by Prof Makhurane (chairman) who is a physicist and the vice chairperson Ms Mabel Elaine Mwamuka who specialises in ultrasonography.

The committee members and their professions are; Mr Selo Nare — retired Judge of the Labour court, Dr Muriel Selma Fallala — Medical Practitioner, Engineer Phakamile Ndebele — water engineer, Mrs Talibali Moyo — chartered Accountant, Ms Stella Nkomo — public relations officer, Prof Godfrey Dzinomwa —Metallurgy, Ambassador Dr Aaron Maboyi — Ncube, Retired Diplomat, Dr Ronny Sibanda — Animal Scientist, Dr Christopher Rohde  — veterinary Sciences, Mrs Patience Marck Patsanza — Sales and Marketing Management, Mr Herbert Nkala — Executive Management, Pastor Regis Chinyanganya — clergy, Dr Anele Sipho Dube —Veterinary Sciences, Mrs Eve Christine Gadzikwa — Biotechnology, Mrs Eunice Njovana — women’s organisations, Mr Sifiso Ndlovu — Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Dr Abraham Babs Nyoni — University Lecturers’ Association, Mrs Ntombehle Moyo — Industry and Commerce, Ms Bongani Huni — Industry and Commerce, Mr Walter Chigwada — Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, Eng-Ronald James Kwenda — Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers, Mr Jackson Peterson Murehwa — Chamber of Mines, Dr Isiah Mufudzi Mharapara— Farmers Unions, Mrs Sithembisiwe M Mpofu — Ndlovu — National environment council, Dr Nhamo Nyanhongo — council veterinary surgeons and Dr Martin Pilani Moyo — Agricultural organisations.

Nust di­rec­tor of mar­ket­ing and Com­mu­ni­ca­tions, Mr Felix Moyo, said even though they have handed over the Gwanda State University Act to the councillors, Nust was always ready to support the fledgling institution.

“We are for­tu­nate that this is not new to us, the Harare In­sti­tute of Tech­nol­ogy was born of Nust, Lu­pane State Univer­sity was born of Nust,” said Mr Moyo.

Prof Makhu­rane is ex­pected to lead the growth and ex­pan­sion of GSU.

Higher and Ter­tiary Ed­u­ca­tion, Science and Tech­nol­ogy De­vel­op­ment representative, Miss Mary Adriano, said the min­istry be­lieved in the expert lead­er­ship of Prof Makhu­rane.

“The inauguration of the Councillors will see the univer­sity work­ing as a stand-­alone in­sti­tu­tion com­pared to what was happening when it was supported by Nust. This is a pos­i­tive move in­deed as it will in­crease busi­ness ac­tiv­ity in Mata­bele­land South and help the nation at large,” she said.

Gwanda State Univer­sity, founded in 2012, has been un­der the guardian­ship of Nust. GSU has been op­er­at­ing as a Nust col­lege based at the Epoch Mine premises in Fi­l­abusi.

It of­fers pro­grammes in the fac­ul­ties of Life Sciences and En­gi­neer­ing to suit the needs of Mata­bele­land South prov­ince.

Among the de­grees on of­fer is the Bach­e­lor of Science in An­i­mal Science and An­i­mal Hus­bandry, Bach­e­lor of En­gi­neer­ing De­gree in Min­er­als and Min­ing En­gi­neer­ing, Bach­e­lor of Science Hon­ours De­gree in Ap­plied Bi­ol­ogy and Bio­chem­istry, Bach­e­lor of Science Hon­ours De­gree in Ap­plied Chem­istry.

Dr Bayeza Man­gena, the GSU director, said enrolment has risen from 65 students last semester to 150.