Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Stakeholders in Beitbridge have called on Government and other investors to establish institutions of higher learning in line with the town’s rapid economic and social growth. Beitbridge town has an estimated population of 70 000 and an additional 13 000 in transit daily and was upgraded into a municipality last month.

Town secretary Mr Loud Ramakgapola said though the town has been growing rapidly since 2006, the shortage of tertiary education had become its greatest undoing.

“We really appreciate this gesture (municipal status) and hope that as town administrators we are not going to let Government down.

“Our population, our infrastructure has given us the edge to do more and we are quite excited about this development. One thing that we want to push, which is lacking in our town is tertiary education.

“We are inviting Government and other development agencies to invest in the development of tertiary education in our town.”
According to Mr Ramakgapola, people from Beitbridge are travelling to Gwanda, Masvingo, Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare and South Africa to access tertiary education.

He said the town has land and some infrastructure at Holiday Inn and NSSA complexes, which could be used to accommodate colleges or universities.

A former resident and sociologist Mr Clement Chipenda said: “As of now, young people from the area have to go elsewhere to access higher education and this is not only expensive, but it can also be detrimental to local development.

“I believe this is costing Beitbridge of an important human resources and benefits of demographic dividend which it is losing out as young people seek education and in most cases do not return.

“This is in a context where locals in Beitbridge traditionally migrate due to lack of opportunities after high school and it is important to have such institutions to capture talent and turn them into critical thinkers who can contribute to local, national and regional development.”

A teacher at a local high school, Miss Patience Moyo said the unavailability of tertiary education was demotivating and expensive for those pursuing higher education elsewhere.

“We are calling on relevant authorities to treat the matter with the urgency it deserves because it is disheartening to see promising students opting out of higher education due to the unavailability of facilities here,” she said.

Former Beitbridge town council vice chairperson, Ms Patricia Ndlovu said the availability of tertiary education facilities would boost the town’s economic growth.

“Government should at least move in and set either a polytechnic college or a university for our children and those from neighbouring provinces locally and in South Africa because of the town’s strategic location.

“This will help us tap into students coming from further afield in terms of accommodation facilities, businesses and their knowledge and skills which is valuable as we seek to realise our dream of turning into a modern city,” she said.

Beitbridge Chief Stauze (David Mbedzi) said: “We are happy that our town has been upgraded, but we need crucial changes and meaningful development in the area which comes with such a status.

“One of the things on the residents’ wish list is to have at least one polytechnic college or university either privately or Government owned to ease pressure on young people who have to migrate to access such facilities elsewhere.”

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