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Zvamaida Murwira in Masvingo

President Mnangagwa yesterday capped 4 465 graduands at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) where female students dominated.

He conferred Doctor of Philosophy degrees, Masters degrees, post-graduate and undergraduate degrees at a ceremony witnessed by academics, business leaders, diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe and senior Government officials, parents and relatives.

GZU Vice Chancellor, Professor Rungano Zvobgo, said after the turn of the millennium, GZU opened its doors with a vision to produce leaders, innovators and change-makers, and that vision was being realised in each of the institution’s graduates.

He said this year’s graduation theme, “Up-scaling Innovation and Industrialisation towards Vision 2030” spoke to the dynamic and ever-evolving challenges and opportunities that graduates will face as they embark on their next journey.

Prof Zvobgo said the university had completed construction of the premier GZU Hospital which will run as a strategic business unit for the university.

“With respect to medical specialists to population distribution in Masvingo Province, the doctor to patient ratio is currently 1:20 000 contrary to the WHO recommended 1:1 000 ratio. Universal health coverage means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, with limited out-of-pocket expenditure. The range of universal health coverage includes health promotion and prevention services, laboratory, X-ray and imaging diagnostics and treatment services, general practitioner medical or health care, specialist medical or health services, rehabilitation services and palliative care, all of which will be available at the university hospital,” said Prof Zvobgo.

He commended the decision by the Government to upgrade Masvingo General Hospital to a teaching hospital.

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Chancellor President Mnangagwa with Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Frederick Shava (right), Minister of State and Devolution for Masvingo Province Ezra Chadzamira (left) and GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo (second from left) at the institution’s graduation ceremony in Masvingo yesterday. — Pictures: Justin Mutenda.

“The university hospital that we have constructed will augment the main hospital after its transformation to a teaching hospital.

“The pace of the transformation is, however, subdued given the urgency with which we need to prepare for the clinical training of the university’s maiden cohort of medical students which is now imminent.

“In addition to supporting the training of medical science students and the upcoming Bachelor of Nursing Science students, the transformation of Masvingo General Hospital will strengthen clinical emergency services in Masvingo Province,” he said.

Prof Zvobgo chronicled the GZU’s achievements, which included the attainment of two top awards at the recently held Presidential Innovation Fair and Awards Ceremony.

He welcomed the recent appointment of Dr Frederick Shava as the new Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.

President Mnangagwa chats with Director-General in the President’s Office Mr Isaac Moyo while ZCC leader Nehemiah Mutendi and other officials look on upon his arrival at Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo yesterday

“Honourable Minister is attending the University’s graduation ceremony for the first time and we wish him well on his new journey. He is no stranger to Government, having served several Ministries as Minister. We look forward to working with you Honourable Minister and pledge our utmost support to your leadership,” said Prof Zvobgo.

He said the university was running the Law Clinic project titled: “Access to Justice through Education” which is providing free legal consultation  and legal representation to disadvantaged persons.

He said the law clinic has been seized with fighting cases of the girl child especially child marriages and other cases of child abuse.

In the area of research and innovation, Prof Zvobgo said the University obtained research grants to the tune of US$160 289 from funding agencies.

“The Research Council of Zimbabwe is funding a smart poultry project worth US$42 000, while the Zimbabwe Agriculture Development Trust (ZADT) is funding student entrepreneurship projects in agriculture to the tune of  US$10 450 with each student receiving US$450 towards a student start-up.”

He said the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICROMM) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) were funding the restoration of the Great Zimbabwe National Monument and World Heritage site worth US$83 060, while the Nordic-Africa Institute is funding a project on gender and women empowerment worth US$24 779.

Musician Jonah Moyo being adorned with PHD regalia after being conferred with an honorary doctorate degree.

“I am pleased to report that the university has so far established 11 student-led start-up companies. The products from these start-ups include; pin making machine project, zunger juice, super fruit ice-cream, zenze hair twisting device, herbal bath salts, bliss detergent, Padare maheu, indigenous chicken feed, Artificial intelligence radio presenter, studio monitoring system and smart poultry project,” he said.

The university, said Prof Zvobgo, has now commercialised its chemical and detergent product lines which include; dishwasher, pine gel, battery acid, engine cleaner, floor polish, tile cleaner, toilet cleaner, sanitiser and methylated spirit.

“The university has further ventured into full scale mining at its special grant awarded by Government in Chivi. To ensure full optimisation of the mining value chain, the university is setting up a school of mining and engineering and a mining industrial park,” he                                       said.

Traditional grains farming and milling is now well established, he said.

“We are now modernising our produce through the installation of a grain processing plant and abattoir. Grain meal production will improve from the current one tonne per day to 25-50 tonnes per day.”

“The equipment was sourced courtesy of Your Excellency’s generosity through our line Ministry.”

Great Zimbabwe University students celebrate after their graduation.

In terms of university governance, Prof Zvobgo said the university was 100 percent compliant with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act of 2018 and has satisfied all statutory requirements as stipulated by the legal provision.

“Your university is up to date with its audit obligations and once again received an unqualified audit opinion for the 2023 audit,” he said.

Prof Zvobgo said enrolment at the university stood at 12 000 with 63 percent being females with 489 international students mainly from Sadc countries.

He said they had problems with illegal gold panners operating around their Mashava Campus.

“There was incessant vandalism of infrastructure and undue exposure to ungainly behaviour all of which have since been resolved.

“We are indebted to Your Excellency’s timely intervention in bringing sanity to our Mashava Campus. The environment is now peaceful and safe for our students,” he said.

He said the university was  sending off 4 465 graduates  who have been equipped with the skills and knowledge to build the nation.

The Great Zimbabwe University Electric Band entertains guests.

“We have among today’s graduands 73 agricultural experts, 1 034 social scientists, 58 lawyers and 172 natural scientists. Among this mix of fine minds are 104 international students,” he said.

GZU Council chairman  Professor Mandivamba Rukuni said the institution like any other, was responsive to needs of its stakeholders.

“Universities are particularly complex institutions. Those which are responsive to national development and the needs of their multiple stakeholders over changing times, make decisions with a long term horizon,” he said.

Some of the graduates included celebrated sungura musician Jonah Moyo who was conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy in Creative and Performing Arts Honorary degree and Minister of State responsible for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira, who was conferred with a Master of Commerce in Strategic Management degree.

Dzimbahwe Dance Group entertains guests at the  graduation ceremony.

Others include Emmanuel Kudakwashe Gwini who was conferred with the Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award for being the best overall graduating student in the School of Heritage and Education, there was also Andres Jasi who was awarded with Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award for being the overall best male graduating student.

The best overall female student went to Laureen Gwatidzo and Mercy Msipa who were awarded the Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa Chancellor’s award for being the best overall graduating student in the School of Natural Science.