Zimpapers Logo

Hebert Zharare recently in ALGIERS, Algeria
PRESIDENT Mugabe on Thursday met Zimbabwean students studying in Algeria and challenged them to create employment for themselves in line with the country’s indigenisation and economic empowerment policy.

He said the government built many schools soon after independence for people to attain basic education and it was now time for students to attain specialised training.

“We’ve attained a high level of education, but not the levels we need for specialised training relating to the needs of development. It’s no longer the digging of gold or planting of seeds. We need to go beyond that now. We need to process the minerals — iron ore to steel, cotton to cloth — value addition and beneficiation, the core of Zim-Asset,” President Mugabe said.

“We need to make Zimbabwe our own, politically, yes it’s our own, but who is managing our mines, our industry? Who are the owners? We were once workers, engineers, miners, metallurgists working for Lonrho and Rio Tinto.

“What we intend to achieve now is ownership of our resources and value add them. Let’s not add value to benefit foreign firms. When you qualify here don’t work for somebody, but yourself. The firms must be yours,” said President Mugabe to huge applause from the students.

The President acknowledged that raising capital was a challenge but urged the students to consider forming partnerships.

The meeting, held at one of Algerian State Hotels, was attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and his Industry and Commerce counterpart Mike Bimha, embassy officials and government officials.

The president of the Community of Zimbabwean Students in Algeria (CZSA), Alfred Mudonhi said despite some of the financial constraints faced, they were grateful that President Mugabe was going an extra mile to ensure they received assistance.

“Your Excellency, allow us to extend our deepest gratitude as a Community of Zimbabwean Students in Algeria to the Government of Zimbabwe for its unwavering determination towards developing our motherland Zimbabwe through educating its citizens.

“Today Zimbabwe boasts of Africa’s highest literacy rate of over 90 percent. Your exceptional diplomatic qualities as manifested by your strong ties with countries willing to develop Zimbabwe has seen many deserving talented Zimbabweans becoming beneficiaries of bilateral scholarships and not forgetting the Presidential scholarships, which are awarded to thousands of students annually,” he said.

Although Zimbabwe sends thousands of students to study in South African universities annually, Algeria has been sponsoring about 40 students from its national budget and, following discussions with President Mugabe on Tuesday, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, agreed to double the number.

Mudonhi said President Mugabe’s zeal to educate Zimbabweans helped to build a firm foundation for the country’s future.

The students lauded the government and embassy officials for their continued support of the country’s education inspite of the challenges the country faced.

“In a nutshell, all I can say on behalf of the community is we’re unequivocally contented with the service we’re receiving from our embassy staff. Your Excellency, we’re deeply indebted to the Government of Zimbabwe for awarding us these bilateral scholarships,” he said.

The Algerian scholarship programme was started in 2005 with 17 students studying in fields such as medicine, engineering, pharmacy and dental surgery.

Year Number of Students

2005 17

2006 38

2007 42

2008 53

2009 69

2010 59

2011 56

2012 47

2013 56

2014 46

Total since 2005 483

Two students, Ethelbert Chingonzo and Kudzanai Tosh died in 2012 and 2013 respectively.