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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Government intends to address student accommodation challenges at universities and other institutions of higher learning, a Cabinet minister has said. It is believed that only 200 000 students out of the 700 000 enrolled at institutions of higher education countrywide have accommodation. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a tour at Great Zimbabwe University’s Robert Mugabe School of Education in Masvingo on Monday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said it was disheartening to note that most students were failing to access accommodation at most universities and colleges. He said his ministry identified 13 areas that needed attention, chief among them infrastructure development, research work, and facilitation of student loans from financial institutions.

“Our top priority in the 100-day plan as espoused by His Excellency President Mnangagwa is on infrastructure for our students,” said Prof Murwira. Government, he said, will work with partners to construct students’ hostels under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. “On December 24 last year, my Ministry and that of Finance and Economic Development released a press statement on Government’s readiness to guarantee infrastructure development for our students in universities and colleges under BOT,” said Prof Murwira.

“A partner will be allowed to build the infrastructure and we let the investor get back his or her investment plus profit for a certain period.” Government believes that the rentals that will be charged for student accommodation will be low and affordable. It is also understood that providing accommodation will help students concentrate on their studies without worrying about their welfare.

Prof Murwira said plans were underway to introduce student loans through arrangements with financial institutions. “We want to move away from the issue of student grants to student loans and we have engaged local banks,” he said. “Some banks have since started advertising these facilities where loans will be extended to deserving students for repayment later.”

According to Prof Murwira, who is on a tour of institutions of higher learning, targets set by his ministry under the 100-day plan were achievable. Speaking at the same occasion, Great Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo said the institution had acquired a number of buildings in and around Masvingo that have since been refurbished into state-of-the-art lecture theatres, libraries and offices for staff.

“The university has grown in leaps and bounds in the five years I have taken over,” he said. “When I arrived in 2012, we had only 4 000 students, but the population has phenomenally grown up to 15 000 students now.”