Story by Wellington Makonese
THE Second Republic is transforming Zimbabwe’s higher and tertiary education sector through massive infrastructure development projects being rolled out at universities and colleges across the country.
From innovation hubs and industrial parks to modern lecture theatres and student accommodation, Zimbabwe’s higher education sector is undergoing a massive facelift under the Second Republic.
The Midlands State University ED Mnangagwa Law School, commissioned last year, headlines the accelerated infrastructure development in the implementation of Education 5.0, focusing on research, innovation and industrialisation across the country.
“It is a new campus, we have this ED Mnangagwa Law school commissioned last year, now open to the public for use from August. We are constructing hostels, the faculty of built environment is coming up, so there is further growth through the faculty of agriculture,” MSU Kwekwe Campus Director, Dr Gilbert Tarugarira said.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Owen Ncube outlined the expansive infrastructure projects at various tertiary institutions in the province, contributing to economic growth as the construction link with downstream industries.
“Under the astute leadership of President Mnangagwa, we have had more infrastructure, from the ED law school, innovation hubs and agro-industrial parks at our institutions, which are driving innovations. This is contributing to the growth of the area,” he said.
The infrastructural transformation is now visible across the country, with universities evolving into innovation and production centres expected to drive Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda.
“There has been massive development under the new dispensation where all tertiary institutions are aligning with the same wavelength of industrial development,” Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation Science and Technology Development, Professor Fanuel Tagwira said.
As the Second Republic continues investing in higher and tertiary education infrastructure, Zimbabwe’s institutions are steadily positioning themselves as key pillars in the country’s journey towards Vision 2030, with a knowledge and innovation economy at the core of processes.
