Give academics hero status, government told

PLUMTREE- Government has been urged to confer hero status to academics who have contributed to the country's academic development through their accomplished achievements.

Addressing mourners in Bulilima's Thekwane village where the late Lupane State University Acting Vice Chancellor Dr Mclean Mackson Bhala was laid to rest yesterday, former Minister Moses Mzila Ndlovu charged that the country's policies were unfair in that they recognised only liberation war heroes and not academics.

"It is sad to note that our country still recognises only liberation war heroes and not academics. This man (Dr. Bhala) was a hero in that he contributed immensely to our educational development especially in Matabeleland where people are marginalised," Ndlovu said.

"If our country had justice today Dr Bhala would be declared a hero and conferred national hero status, but it is not so because of policies that favour only those who went to war. But even some of the perceived liberation heroes cannot match Bhala's accomplishments in the country's development," he added.

The late Dr Bhala who died at 59 after succumbing to heart complications received a hero's send off as numerous people from all walks of life thronged his rural home to bid him farewell.

He was described by most speakers as a man of accomplished achievements characterised by discipline, commitment and consistency in everything he did.

He was lauded mostly for co-founding Matabeleland's first rural university situated at Lupane. At its inception Lupane State University (LSU) had 12 students but currently it enrols approximately 4000 students.

The Lupane community represented by Chief Mabhikwa requested government to name some of the university structures of LSU after the late Dr. Bhala so as to remember his vast contribution to the university.

"As people of Lupane we request government to name one of the structures at the university – be it a lane or block after the late Dr Bhala because of his sterling contributions to the this institution," Donald Khumalo who spoke on behalf of Chief Mabhikwa said.

At the time of his death, Lupane University council board chairman Malaba said, the late Dr Bhala had been recommended for the substantive post of Vice Chancellor after participating in interviews for the post a few days before he breathed his last.

This has triggered calls that he must be declared posthumously the first Vice Chancellor of the University so as to safeguard his legacy of being the pioneer founder of the university.