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Yoliswa Dube Chronicle Reporter
THE National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has partnered with the United States Public Affairs Section to build a $300,000 facility that will facilitate the creation of new technology.

The Nust American Space in Bulawayo will house a library, an educational advisory service centre and equipment designed to foster imagination, innovation and collaboration.

The Nust American Space will also have free wireless internet for members of the public and will host speaker events on topics ranging from the arts to entrepreneurship, technology to youth development and women empowerment among other activities.

Speaking at the launch of the facility recently, United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton said the facility was for the wider Bulawayo community.

“This space is designed to foster imagination, innovation and collaboration. It’ll be a place for the Nust community and for the wider community in Bulawayo to come together to create new technology and partnerships. I welcome and encourage students and faculty from other tertiary institutions to also take advantage of the resources that will be available when this project is finished,” said Ambassador Wharton at an event that was also attended by Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo, Minister of Provincial Affairs for Bulawayo Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo and Nust Vice Chancellor Professor Lindela Ndlovu.

The facility, the ambassador said, was designed to foster people-to-people connections, increase understanding and build respect with local audiences through cultural programmes.

“More than a traditional library, our hope is that the facility will become a dynamic community space and entrepreneurial hub. Our goal is to engage audiences with compelling environments that welcome spontaneous interaction, shared ideas and warm conversations,” he said.

Ten cities on the African continent were selected for significant upgrades and Bulawayo was among them as the city has a great potential and creativity, Ambassador Wharton said.

“Bulawayo was chosen not just in competition with other African countries but among the many spaces located within each country throughout the continent, including the four spaces in Zimbabwe. Ultimately, Zimbabwe’s prosperity depends on its greatest resource, its people,” said Ambassador Wharton.

“We want all Zimbabweans to understand that they’ll always have a strong and reliable partner in the USA.”

Prof Ndlovu said as per their memorandum of partnership, the new facility shall be much more enhanced in terms of space, furniture and communication equipment as it will be provided with state-of-the-art computers, internet, video conferencing facilities, books and magazines.

“We especially requested that the reading materials should take our community forward in areas of science and technology and our request was acceded to,” said Prof Ndlovu.

He said an increasing number of students from Nust had been coming forward with entrepreneurial ideas which they wished to test or develop under the incubation services of the Nust Technopark.

“The Nust Technopark was beginning to get overwhelmed by demand, given the constraints of both space within Nust and other infrastructure to support the incubation of student entrepreneurial projects. This Nust American Space will go a long way towards reducing the constraints that the system at Nust was facing,” said Prof Ndlovu.

“Nust welcomes most heartily this development which is sure to contribute to the social upliftment of the Nust community and the community of Bulawayo, the Matabeleland region and Zimbabwe as a whole.”