Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
GREAT Zimbabwe University (GZU) will start training traditional chiefs in basic law in August at its Herbert Chitepo Law School, the institution’s Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo has said. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a breakfast meeting the university organised yesterday, Prof Zvobgo said the training, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, seeks to equip traditional leaders with legal skills.

He said law lectures for the chiefs will be done at certificate and diploma level with those interested in proceeding with their studies given an opportunity to do so.

Prof Zvobgo said they are in the process of formulating the curriculum and the university will take into consideration chiefs’ expectations in the training.

The GZU Vice Chancellor said the university cannot disassociate itself from the community, hence they were training traditional leaders. “We’re presently working on the curriculum of the programme that chiefs will undergo. Training of chiefs in matters to do with law is one of the important tasks for the university. We should be able to live up to traditional chiefs’ expectations,” said Prof Zvobgo.

He said there will be wide consultations on what should be included in the training.

Professor Zvobgo said the university will strive to fulfil objectives of the country’s blue-print, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) by equipping its graduates with the necessary skills to enable them to contribute positively to the country’s economic and social sectors.

He said university students are expected to be well equipped with necessary resources so that they can be able to address some of the economic challenges bedevilling the country after graduating.

Prof Zvobgo said all departments at the university are expected to embrace the objectives of Zim-Asset so that higher education has a meaning to the nation.

“Our students should understand the concept of Zim-Asset, the issue of food security, manpower development and infrastructural development. They (students) should be able to contribute to the advancement of the economy after completing studies,” said Prof Zvobgo.

“All departments should have a refocus and ensure that their programmes are in tandem with the objectives of Zim-Asset.”

He said the growth of the university and provision of support services has attracted many students from within and beyond the country’s borders.

He said the student population has grown to 9,000 now from less than 5,000 in the past three years.

You Might Also Like

Comments