News / Education
Gwanda University premises condemned
11 Sep 2013 at 04:30hrs | Views
THE Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education has condemned the Gwanda State University (GSU) premises, forcing the institution to defer its opening.The university which was officially launched two months ago, was supposed to open this month.
In an interview yesterday, the university's designate Vice-Chancellor Dr Sikhulumani Bayeza Mangena said the university was told that its premises in Gwanda were not suitable and was advised to use disused Epoch Nickel Mine premises in Filabusi in the meantime.
"We have not started operations as we are now going to Filabusi. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education condemned the Gwanda Show Grounds premises, which we had planned to use. We have been advised to use Epoch Mine in Filabusi which has been handed over to the Government," said Dr Mangena.
"We have visited the premises and they are good. The place has satisfactory buildings. We will soon spruce up the place before another inspection by the ministry officials," he said.
Dr Mangena assured members of the public and the students that the university would be opened this year despite the setback.
He said the university has short-listed 100 students for its first intake and the figure will later be increased to 500.
"If the ministry had approved our proposed site, we could have started by now," said Dr Mangena.
Once operational GSU would initially be run as a university college of the National University of Science Technology (Nust) while awaiting the enactment of its Charter.
The university would have degree programmes under the Faculties of Mining Engineering and Life Sciences and later on introduce the Faculty of Humanities and Earth Sciences.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Washington Mbizvo has pledged adequate funding for the new institution of higher learning which already has a bus bought by the ministry.
The Municipality of Gwanda has donated 87 hectares for the construction of the university while another 2 500 hectares has also been availed in Insiza District.
The idea to set up GSU was mooted in 2004. The university had acquired Mtshabezi building from the Ministry of Public Works to be used as administration offices while the Gwanda Town Council offered the showgrounds for conducting lectures.
At the moment Matabeleland South, Manicaland and Mashonaland East are the only provinces yet to have state universities.
The only university in Matabeleland South is the Seventh-Day Adventist Church run Solusi University.
In an interview yesterday, the university's designate Vice-Chancellor Dr Sikhulumani Bayeza Mangena said the university was told that its premises in Gwanda were not suitable and was advised to use disused Epoch Nickel Mine premises in Filabusi in the meantime.
"We have not started operations as we are now going to Filabusi. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education condemned the Gwanda Show Grounds premises, which we had planned to use. We have been advised to use Epoch Mine in Filabusi which has been handed over to the Government," said Dr Mangena.
"We have visited the premises and they are good. The place has satisfactory buildings. We will soon spruce up the place before another inspection by the ministry officials," he said.
Dr Mangena assured members of the public and the students that the university would be opened this year despite the setback.
He said the university has short-listed 100 students for its first intake and the figure will later be increased to 500.
"If the ministry had approved our proposed site, we could have started by now," said Dr Mangena.
The university would have degree programmes under the Faculties of Mining Engineering and Life Sciences and later on introduce the Faculty of Humanities and Earth Sciences.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Washington Mbizvo has pledged adequate funding for the new institution of higher learning which already has a bus bought by the ministry.
The Municipality of Gwanda has donated 87 hectares for the construction of the university while another 2 500 hectares has also been availed in Insiza District.
The idea to set up GSU was mooted in 2004. The university had acquired Mtshabezi building from the Ministry of Public Works to be used as administration offices while the Gwanda Town Council offered the showgrounds for conducting lectures.
At the moment Matabeleland South, Manicaland and Mashonaland East are the only provinces yet to have state universities.
The only university in Matabeleland South is the Seventh-Day Adventist Church run Solusi University.
Source - chronicle
