Zimpapers Logo

Chinhoyi Bureau
Zimbabwe is working on plans to set up the Pan-African Minerals University of Science and Technology (PAMUST) to accelerate social and economic development through science and technology.
This is part of a broader African vision to speed up development by promoting research at institutions of science and technology.

Addressing Government officials at a workshop in Kariba recently, Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga said Zimbabwe won the bid to host the institution.

Heads of State and Government met in 2001 and 2005 where the establishment of a specialised institution of science and technology to spur development on the continent was discussed.

Once established, the university will become the fourth such specialised institution after three others in Abuja (Nigeria), specialising in petroleum engineering and energy; Arusha (Tanzania) specialising in life sciences; and in Burkina Faso, focusing on water and the environment.

“Southern Africa was given the responsibility of working on value addition and beneficiation and Zimbabwe won the bid to establish the university,” said Prof Gudyanga. “It is something that has been agreed upon and the Ministry of Mines has been tasked to work on establishing the institution.”

The university will offer postgraduate studies for masters and doctorate students and focus chiefly in mining engineering, geology, extractive technology and material science and engineering.

Prof Gudyanga said co-operation in value addition and beneficiation had been minimal and Africa needed to go it on its own.

“The university will train the next generation of leaders and professors in the mining sector in Africa,” he said. “Advances in science and changes in technology are the main drivers of economic development.”

Prof Gudyanga said there were not enough lecturers in the mining field at institutions such as the University of Zimbabwe and that the setting up of PAMUST would help in availing manpower.