Relocation of Lupane State University a milestone

Writer Ken Kesey once said: "You don't lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case". Warren Bennis, another American scholar, organisational consultant and author, who is widely regarded as a pioneer of the contemporary field of leadership studies said: "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."

From 2005, the vision of Lupane State University and the Government was to have the university operating from Lupane, the capital of Matabeleland North Province but the slow pace in putting up infrastructure has seen years going by with the university operating from various buildings in Bulawayo, about 175 km away.

There have been statements from the university and various Government officials regarding the relocation of the university to its rightful place over the years, and with nothing happening on the ground, the people of Lupane and Matabeleland North in general, anxious to see their first university come to life, have been starting to grumble and take any talk about relocation as mere politicking or cheap talk.

However, news that the university's Vice Chancellor, Professor Pardon Kuipa and Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Nomathemba Ndiweni have started working from the Lupane campus made sweet music. It was good news not to the people of Matabeleland North only, but to the entire country as the move is an indicator that something is happening on the ground and Government is committed to making sure that each province has a state university.

It goes without saying that with the top brass of the university, that also includes the Registrar and a Librarian and Bursar, having moved to Lupane from Bulawayo, there is no going back on the relocation of the university which was earmarked to start in the middle of this year.

"The major development that we have achieved this year is that the VC and the executive advanced parties have moved to start work in Lupane which is what we have been looking forward to all this time. We have temporary power supply connected to the hostels and warden houses that will be occupied by senior management as we wait for permanent connection to be done while we settle in," the university's Marketing and Public Relations director, Mr Zwelithini Dlamini, was quoted as saying by our sister paper, Chronicle last week.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Prof Jonathan Moyo, who was one of the driving forces behind the setting up of the university, is also on record urging the university leadership to ensure relocation is done without further delay. In an address to staff sometime last year, he warned those against relocation.

"We are aware or at least heard rumours that some of you members of the staff joined out of a belief that Lupane relocation is wishful thinking, propaganda from the Government, it will never happen, there is no money for it. So you thought it's going to be Lupane State University in Bulawayo.

"We have heard rumours suggesting that some of the staff with that attitude have their children going to elite schools here. It might be nursery schools and primary schools and they say I can't go with my family to live in the bush where they don't have these schools. It means these are the last days we are with you."

The university will from next month move some departments to Lupane, with the relocation set to be done in phases. The relocation of the university to the capital of Matabeleland North will further boost infrastructural development in the area, with massive works on power supply, water supply, health provision and housing. Business for local retail shops, transport sector and entertainment joints is also set to improve, with various job opportunities to be availed downstream, in line with the Government economic blueprint, Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset), which also places emphasis on job and wealth creation as well as infrastructural development.

We have no doubt that the relocation of the university to its rightful place will kick start a chain reaction of positives in as far as development in Matabeleland North is concerned, and we commend the Government for remaining steadfast in the project and hope those at Gwanda State University in Matabeleland South have been challenged to move with speed on their project.

Moreover, there are also other Government departments who should have moved to Lupane long back but are still housed in Bulawayo, despite offices being built. We urge them to take a cue from the university and follow suit.