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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
ZIMBABWE Ezekiel Guti University (Zegu) founder and chancellor Dr Ezekiel Guti last Friday capped 178 students at the university’s campus in Bindura.

Most of the graduates were females and the event coincided with International Women’s Day.

In her address at the institution’s third graduation ceremony, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sunungurai Chingarande-Mutanga said Zegu was contributing towards addressing gender imbalances in society.

“One hundred and seventy eight students — 70 males and 108 females — are graduating from the three faculties of Arts, Commerce and Education.

“We are celebrating our graduation on the International Women’s Day, a day the world is called to act to address gender imbalances,” said Prof Chingarande-Mutanga.

“In our previous graduation ceremony, 80 students graduated. This is an increase of 142 percent. Our first graduation had 40 students. We are doing all we can to transform lives through a process we liken to grafting, turning lemon trees into orange trees through various spiritual Christian-related programmes.”

Prof Chingarande-Mutanga added that the university had rebranded its faculties to reduce the costs of running faculties and enhance the marketability and uniqueness of the university.

“The faculties of Arts and Education were merged to form the Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences,” said Prof Chingarande-Mutanga.

“The Faculty of Commerce is now called the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accounting.

“The university has introduced another Faculty of Health Sciences, Science and Technology. The university has introduced new programmes with a fresh thrust towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“We didn’t have any Science-related or master’s programmes, but we now have the Masters of Science in Health Care, Ethics and Law, Masters of Commerce Degree in Forensic Accounting and Auditing among others.

“In our health-related programmes that require Biochemistry and Microbiology laboratories, we are using Mbuya Dorcas Hospital for practical sessions.

“The hospital is a sister institution and the move was not to burden the church by constructing laboratories that are already available. The facilities were inspected by Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education and they were impressed.”

Dr Guti’s was accompanied by his wife, Eunor, who is enrolled at the university for a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Business Administration and Management.