Infrastructure bond to be issued for varsities Higher and tertiary education, science and technology development minister professor Jonathan Moyo (centre) stresses a point during a visit to Gwanda State University yesterday. Looking on (left) are the Nust acting vice chancellor professor Samson Sibanda and the university’s project director Sikhulumani Mangena
Higher and tertiary education, science and technology development minister professor Jonathan Moyo (centre) stresses a point during a visit to Gwanda State University yesterday. Looking on (left) are the Nust acting vice chancellor professor Samson Sibanda and the university’s project director Sikhulumani Mangena

Higher and tertiary education, science and technology development minister professor Jonathan Moyo (centre) stresses a point during a visit to Gwanda State University yesterday. Looking on (left) are the Nust acting vice chancellor professor Samson Sibanda and the university’s project director Sikhulumani Mangena

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE government will issue an infrastructure bond for state universities to build lecture rooms and solve accommodation shortages, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Jonathan Moyo has said.

He was at the Gwanda State University at Epoch Mine, Matabeleland South yesterday, as part of his countrywide tour to assess infrastructural progress at state universities and find out their challenges.

The university operates as a college of the National University of Science and Technology based at Epoch Mine premises in Filabusi.

“We don’t underestimate the challenges that our universities are facing. There are serious issues that need to be attended to. I’m happy to say that we’ve anticipated the universities’ requirements, including the Gwanda State University. We’ve included them in the proposal for an infrastructure bond for higher and tertiary institutions, which was presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Patrick Chinamasa in the 2016 national budget.

“Work is now quite advanced to prepare for that and the bond will support not only student accommodation but also staff accommodation. The upcoming universities, which include Gwanda, Manicaland and Marondera will definitely benefit from the bond and we’re confident that the accommodation issue, which has been quite problematic for other universities and colleges will be addressed,” said Prof Moyo.

The minister said the government was aware of the institutional challenges faced by tertiary institutions, especially the lack of infrastructure, teaching and learning facilities, hence the introduction of the infrastructure bond.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress made at the Gwanda University, which is administered by Nust.

“The biggest progress is that we now have a statute, which is the Gwanda State University Act. This means the university exists at law and we’re grateful that this law has been enacted against the background of quite some considerable work that has been going on in anticipation of this project by Nust.

“They’ve shown serious commitment and launched two academic programmes, one of them is mining, which is very important in this part of the country. The other one is livestock and it’s well known that this region is for livestock. They have 28 students who have started the journey of getting a degree at Gwanda University and it’s very significant,” said Prof Moyo.

He said the university would soon have a council that will deal with the policy issues.

“The instrument for dealing with all these issues is the university council. Today we’re here to appreciate where things are so that we can now take the next step of recommending to His Excellency the appointment of the university council, which will be the major policy making body.

“Once the council for Gwanda State University is appointed, it will take over all these responsibilities and the university will be up and running. The fact that we have a place like this, which is a mining place is good because it has the basic infrastructure that’s required,” said Prof Moyo.

He said the facility has a lot of advantages including a water source that is about 7km away.

The project director Sikhulumani Mangena said the premises require $2 million to be converted into a fully-fledged university.

He said by September next year, it will have 120 more students being accommodated at the campus in addition to the current 28.

Infrastructure at the former Epoch Mine was donated to the university by Bindura Nickel Corporation in 2000.

The education sector got the biggest boost from next year’s $4 billion National Budget last month after Minister Chinamasa allocated it more than $800 million as the government intensifies efforts to improve the quality of education, especially infrastructure.

 

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