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Heather Charema in Chegutu
Graduates from industrial colleges have been urged to prioritise the revival of the country’s economy through the use of technical and entrepreneurial skills to establish new industries and produce quality and affordable products for the nation.

Speaking at the 30th graduation and prize-giving ceremony at Mupfure Industrial Training College in Chegutu last week, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira urged technical colleges to play a leading role in designing and producing their own products to boost the socio-economic status of the country.

At least 182 students graduated with national certificates and Training for Entrepreneurship (TFE) courses in various disciplines at the colourful ceremony held at the college.

“His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe, Cde ED Mnangagwa, has outlined on behalf of all Zimbabweans, a vision of an upper middle income economy for Zimbabwe by 2030, meaning all the conditions that lead to industrialisation have to be fulfilled,” said Prof Murwira.

“This can only happen when our education and its underlying philosophy are sound. Our education has to work hard for us, it must produce industry for us.

“Our education must be relevant in areas of job creation and must have consciousness.

“The Zimbabwe we want requires people with relevant skills for today and tomorrow. The Zimbabwe and Africa we want is made today in our colleges and universities. Let us take these first steps together.”

The Government, Prof Murwira said, valued skills development and practical training of students.

“I am advised that the graduands have excelled in a curriculum, which required both academic rigour and practical acumen,” he said.

“This is a useful combination that is pivotal for the provision of relevant goods and services for the modernisation and industrialisation of Zimbabwe.

“To all the graduands, I say the skills you have acquired today can only be measured by the quality of your products. I, therefore, encourage you to produce cheaper, but quality goods which are useful in industrial production.”

Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Mary Mliswa-Chikoka urged the college principal to embrace new technology and assist in attaining Vision 2030.

“This college has proved to be a nucleus point from which Mashonaland West province will develop,” she said.

“We cherish very much the growth of this college and wish it to expand into an institution par excellence in terms of human capital development.

“Looking into the future, I see Mupfure Industrial Training College being our focus in terms of executing developmental projects as a province.

“To the principal here at Mupfure, I urge you to embrace and adapt into this new high technology era that the world finds itself in.

“This is a policy your parent ministry has adopted through education 5.0 thrust which focuses on innovation and industrialisation.

“Without a doubt this will definitely lead us to attain middle income status by 2030 as espoused by President ED Mnangagwa.”

Mupfure Industrial Training College principal Mr Cletus Ncube commended Government for promoting the Public Private Partnership policy.

“Today, we applaud the promulgated and promotion of a policy of public private partnership as enunciated by our Government in view of the mantra, Zimbabwe is open for business,” he said.

“Such a policy has resulted in the building of bridges which are beneficial to all stakeholders.

“The 2018-19 academic calendar has seen Mupfure Industrial Training College establishing and cementing enduring partnerships with charitable organisations which focus on uplifting the esteem of orphaned and other vulnerable youth.

“We have enrolled youths from Capernaum and SOS, Harare and Bindura villages.”

This year’s graduation ceremony ran under the theme: “Manpower development for Socio-economic transformation through education with production”.

The graduates comprised of 88 females and 94 males.