'Bhala's death is a big blow'

The death of Lupane State University's (LSU) Acting Vice Chancellor Dr MacClean Mackson Bhala has been described a big blow to the country's education sector as he had recently initiated a programme designed to capacitate teachers through post graduate training in Matabeleland North.

LSU information and public relations officer Zwelithini Dlamini said poor pass rates recorded by many schools in the province, had prompted Dr Bhala to come up with programmes that were meant to enhance teachers' skills training.

Dlamini said through Dr Bhala's guidance, the institution established satellite campuses for teacher training in Lupane, Victoria Falls and were in the process of setting up another one in Kamativi.

"He started programmes targeting the educational sector to try and assist in equipping teachers with skills. He wanted to upgrade and equip the teachers with skills under the guide of Hillside Teachers College," said Dlamini.

He said the institution has started running some of its teacher training lectures in Victoria Falls and Lupane. "Last week, we started running classes on educational training and the dean and some faculty members visited satellite campuses to initiate the programme," he said.

Dlamini said the institution's drive to capacitate teachers was driven by the need to address the issue of poor pass rates the province was recording every year.

Meanwhile, the Senior Minister of State in the President's Office Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo has described Dr Bhala as an intelligent man whose death has robbed the country of a nation builder.

"Dr Bhala was an accomplished educationist, a man of letters, clearly an academic of impressive intellectual skills, a humble and unassuming servant of the people and a complete personality," said Ambassador Moyo.

Ambassador Moyo expressed shock at Dr Bhala's sudden death saying the country is poorer without him.

The family spokesperson Moses Mzila said they were still finalising the burial arrangements.