News / National
Zimbabwe govt dismantles 'self-serving' academic restrictions
2 hrs ago |
25 Views
Government is pushing for increased student enrolment at universities as it expands higher education infrastructure, with authorities calling for an end to restrictions imposed by professional bodies that limit access to training in fields such as law and accountancy.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Zhemu Soda said the expansion of university infrastructure must be matched by a corresponding increase in student intake if Zimbabwe is to achieve its research, innovation and industrialisation ambitions under Vision 2030.
Dr Soda made the remarks during a recent tour of the Midlands State University (MSU) Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School Campus in Kwekwe.
During the visit, officials told the minister that more than 1 000 prospective law students had applied for admission during the current semester, but only 100 were enrolled.
The university said its law student intake is regulated by the Law Society of Zimbabwe.
Dr Soda criticised the restrictions, arguing that Government's investment in university infrastructure would have limited impact if institutions were prevented from using their full capacity.
"Government is aiming at breaking the practice of self-serving by bodies such as the Law Society of Zimbabwe and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe so that institutions like MSU can absorb more students," he said.
"The Government is expanding facilities to break the self-serving practice. There are some restrictions they have put in place. It's something that must be broken.
"We cannot have a facility that can absorb 1 000 students taking only 100."
The minister said Government would examine the issue further to ensure that infrastructure development was accompanied by increased enrolment.
"It's something we have to look at further. The expansion has to have a corresponding increase in student intake," he said.
Kwekwe Campus director Dr Gilbert Tarugarira said the vision for an MSU law school dates back to 2015, when a founding planning committee was established under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, alongside the late national heroes Cephas Msipa and Richard Hove.
"The dream started in 2015. There is a history behind this university, from the mooting of the idea to mobilising resources to have this institution. Now we have the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School as part of the institution," Dr Tarugarira said.
He said the decision to name the law school after President Mnangagwa was intended to recognise his leadership and contribution to the legal sector.
"We want to inspire the young so that they can become lawyers," he said.
Government has been the major financier of the project, releasing ZiG262 million towards completion of the campus.
Dr Tarugarira said construction was now substantially complete, with the facility having obtained its certificate of occupancy.
"We did the construction, which is almost complete. We are still fixing one or two things here and there. We've obtained the certificate of occupancy. Now the facility is occupied and we're attending to certain inadequacies," he said.
The campus currently accommodates the Faculties of Law and Agriculture, while plans are underway to introduce a third faculty focusing on Built Environment, Art and Design.
Dr Tarugarira said the university project had also generated economic activity in Kwekwe, with local communities benefiting from construction and the expansion of businesses linked to student life.
He said the project had relied heavily on local labour, creating employment and business opportunities during construction.
"A lot of innovation is coming through. The completion of Kwekwe Campus has changed the face of the town. New buildings are coming up. Businesses are flourishing," he said.
The campus is also developing agricultural research and innovation projects, including mushroom production, cannabis research and piggery projects.
Researchers are also studying the decline in cotton production and exploring the development of seed varieties suited to conditions in the Midlands.
Dr Tarugarira said demand for places at the law school remained high.
"We've received more than 1 000 applications from law students and not all of them could be absorbed. Only 100 were enrolled," he said.
He added that the university currently had about 400 law students at the campus, with another 300 undertaking attachments.
The development of the Kwekwe campus forms part of Government's decentralisation drive, which seeks to bring higher education closer to communities that previously had limited access to university facilities.
The MSU Faculty of Law has now relocated from the university's main campus in Gweru to Kwekwe.
All law lectures, tutorials and administrative operations have moved to the new campus following the resumption of the 2026 academic semester on Monday.
The Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School is expected to become a major centre for legal education and academic collaboration as Zimbabwe implements its Heritage-Based Education 5.0 Model.
The model places emphasis on research, innovation, industrialisation and the development of practical skills aligned with national economic priorities.
The self-contained campus, constructed from 2023, includes lecture rooms, moot courts, a library, student accommodation, a kitchen, hospital facilities and staff quarters.
The 220-hectare campus is located along the Old Kwekwe-Gokwe Road and has a planned capacity of 600 students.
President Mnangagwa officially commissioned the facility last year, in a ceremony that also marked the first time MSU held a graduation ceremony outside its main campus in Gweru.
Government says the project is part of wider efforts to modernise higher education and support the country's Vision 2030 development agenda.
The law school has also been presented as a tribute to President Mnangagwa's legal career and contribution to Zimbabwe's justice system, including his advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty.
The Minister's tour of the campus formed part of a wider Government assessment of development projects underway across Midlands Province.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Zhemu Soda said the expansion of university infrastructure must be matched by a corresponding increase in student intake if Zimbabwe is to achieve its research, innovation and industrialisation ambitions under Vision 2030.
Dr Soda made the remarks during a recent tour of the Midlands State University (MSU) Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School Campus in Kwekwe.
During the visit, officials told the minister that more than 1 000 prospective law students had applied for admission during the current semester, but only 100 were enrolled.
The university said its law student intake is regulated by the Law Society of Zimbabwe.
Dr Soda criticised the restrictions, arguing that Government's investment in university infrastructure would have limited impact if institutions were prevented from using their full capacity.
"Government is aiming at breaking the practice of self-serving by bodies such as the Law Society of Zimbabwe and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe so that institutions like MSU can absorb more students," he said.
"The Government is expanding facilities to break the self-serving practice. There are some restrictions they have put in place. It's something that must be broken.
"We cannot have a facility that can absorb 1 000 students taking only 100."
The minister said Government would examine the issue further to ensure that infrastructure development was accompanied by increased enrolment.
"It's something we have to look at further. The expansion has to have a corresponding increase in student intake," he said.
Kwekwe Campus director Dr Gilbert Tarugarira said the vision for an MSU law school dates back to 2015, when a founding planning committee was established under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, alongside the late national heroes Cephas Msipa and Richard Hove.
"The dream started in 2015. There is a history behind this university, from the mooting of the idea to mobilising resources to have this institution. Now we have the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School as part of the institution," Dr Tarugarira said.
He said the decision to name the law school after President Mnangagwa was intended to recognise his leadership and contribution to the legal sector.
"We want to inspire the young so that they can become lawyers," he said.
Government has been the major financier of the project, releasing ZiG262 million towards completion of the campus.
Dr Tarugarira said construction was now substantially complete, with the facility having obtained its certificate of occupancy.
"We did the construction, which is almost complete. We are still fixing one or two things here and there. We've obtained the certificate of occupancy. Now the facility is occupied and we're attending to certain inadequacies," he said.
The campus currently accommodates the Faculties of Law and Agriculture, while plans are underway to introduce a third faculty focusing on Built Environment, Art and Design.
Dr Tarugarira said the university project had also generated economic activity in Kwekwe, with local communities benefiting from construction and the expansion of businesses linked to student life.
He said the project had relied heavily on local labour, creating employment and business opportunities during construction.
"A lot of innovation is coming through. The completion of Kwekwe Campus has changed the face of the town. New buildings are coming up. Businesses are flourishing," he said.
The campus is also developing agricultural research and innovation projects, including mushroom production, cannabis research and piggery projects.
Researchers are also studying the decline in cotton production and exploring the development of seed varieties suited to conditions in the Midlands.
Dr Tarugarira said demand for places at the law school remained high.
"We've received more than 1 000 applications from law students and not all of them could be absorbed. Only 100 were enrolled," he said.
He added that the university currently had about 400 law students at the campus, with another 300 undertaking attachments.
The development of the Kwekwe campus forms part of Government's decentralisation drive, which seeks to bring higher education closer to communities that previously had limited access to university facilities.
The MSU Faculty of Law has now relocated from the university's main campus in Gweru to Kwekwe.
All law lectures, tutorials and administrative operations have moved to the new campus following the resumption of the 2026 academic semester on Monday.
The Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School is expected to become a major centre for legal education and academic collaboration as Zimbabwe implements its Heritage-Based Education 5.0 Model.
The model places emphasis on research, innovation, industrialisation and the development of practical skills aligned with national economic priorities.
The self-contained campus, constructed from 2023, includes lecture rooms, moot courts, a library, student accommodation, a kitchen, hospital facilities and staff quarters.
The 220-hectare campus is located along the Old Kwekwe-Gokwe Road and has a planned capacity of 600 students.
President Mnangagwa officially commissioned the facility last year, in a ceremony that also marked the first time MSU held a graduation ceremony outside its main campus in Gweru.
Government says the project is part of wider efforts to modernise higher education and support the country's Vision 2030 development agenda.
The law school has also been presented as a tribute to President Mnangagwa's legal career and contribution to Zimbabwe's justice system, including his advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty.
The Minister's tour of the campus formed part of a wider Government assessment of development projects underway across Midlands Province.
Source - The Chronicle
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
