Staff Reporter
A new era of educational opportunity is dawning in Chegutu, Mashonaland West Province, as construction of Great Height University, a brand-new institution funded by the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, continues at a remarkable pace. The university is expected to open its doors to its first batch of students in January next year, marking a major leap in the decentralisation of higher education in Zimbabwe.
Once completed, Great Height University will become the second SDA-run tertiary institution in the country after Solusi University in Bulawayo. Its establishment signals a bold commitment by the church to not only spiritual development but also national advancement through education.
During a recent tour of the university site, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution hailed the SDA Church for taking a lead in addressing the province’s long-standing need for a second university.
“For years, Mashonaland West has dreamt of having another university. The SDA Church has answered this call, and what we are witnessing today is tangible progress—brick by brick, a dream is becoming reality. This is what development looks like when communities and churches work hand in hand with the government,” she said.
Engineer Albert Machando, the project coordinator and a member of the church, said the university reflects the church’s belief that education is a powerful tool for empowerment.
“This is more than bricks and mortar but it is a symbol of what can be achieved when faith, vision, and development unite,” he said.
The SDA Church has a long-standing legacy in Zimbabwe’s education sector, running over 165 primary and secondary schools nationwide. Church leaders emphasise that their mission goes beyond religious lines and aims to serve the wider community.
“These institutions are not just for Adventists—they are for all Zimbabweans. Education uplifts families and transforms communities. Our goal is to bring quality, values-based education closer to the people,” said a senior official of the SDA Church.
Government has endorsed the project as being in sync with the Second Republic’s development agenda, especially the push for a whole-of-society approach. Through public-private partnerships, initiatives like Great Height University are helping to reduce the rural-urban divide in access to services such as education, healthcare, and clean water.
As the university nears completion, it promises to bring far-reaching benefits—not just to Chegutu, but to students and families across the province and beyond. From creating employment opportunities to increasing access to higher education, Great Height University is poised to become a beacon of hope and progress in Zimbabwe’s growing knowledge economy.
