Story by Nyasha Makota
ZIMBABWEAN universities have earned top honours at the just-ended Regional Universities Forum for Agricultural Development (RUFORUM) in Botswana, with the achievements credited to strong national support under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Great Zimbabwe University clinched the award for Best Exhibition Stand, while the University of Zimbabwe received an Appreciation Award in recognition of its successful hosting of the 2022 Annual General Meeting, further highlighting the country’s growing influence in regional academic and research excellence.
“Thank you very much Africa, thank you very much Zimbabwe and thank you, Great Zimbabwe, for the performance which has given us this award,” GZU Vice Chancellor, Professor Rungano Zvobgo said.
“We celebrate most that our Government through the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, continues to support us,” Africa University Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter Mageto said.
“We are quite delighted to receive the recognition for successfully holding the same conference in 2022. It means people are still with us in understanding how our heritage-based education 5.0 is influencing the African continent. And it has been mentioned specifically how Zimbabwe’s model can be adopted by RUFORUM,” UZ Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Mapfumo said.
Congratulating the winners, Botswana’s Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Agreement Jotia, commended Zimbabwe’s academic leadership.
“Zimbabwe has been the powerhouse of African intellectualism. Most students from Botswana went to school in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is one of those countries which has a robust curriculum. We are not perplexed that the country has won a couple of awards here. We take it Zimbabwe is an example of Africa has brains,” Professor Jotia said.
The accolades underscore Zimbabwe’s sustained influence in shaping higher education and innovation across Africa.
