Staff Reporter
President Mnangagwa yesterday urged tertiary institutions to continually strive to come up with scientific research that can capacitate society to be active participants in national development.
Speaking after conferring and awarding degrees to 6 084 graduands at the University of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa said that real education is that which brings solutions to societal challenges.
“The nurturing of our students to be part of the building process of our great country is highly commendable as it fosters responsible and productive students, staff and citizens towards the realisation of the national vision 2030 and beyond. As an institution, you have demonstrated that you are indeed adhering to the mantra, Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo,” said the President.
The President said that going forward; institutions of higher learning should continue introducing new and innovative methods of teaching and learning. He added that these methods must create a balance for students and staff to engage in processes of research, innovation and production of goods and services for the nation.
President Mnangagwa further said that the future is on sciences and urged local universities to continue to propel the science oriented education as that would be a catalyst to the rapid development of the country.
Furthermore, the President commissioned three state of the art projects at UZ. These projects include the International Centre for Surgical Simulation, the Vehicle Number Plate Production Plant and the UZ Students’ Bus Terminus.
President Mnangagwa said the International Centre for Surgical Simulation was one of the few in Africa and was going to make the country an international training centre in laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is a low risk and minimally invasive surgical process used for examining the organs within the abdomen of the human body.
According to President Mnangagwa, the Vehicle Number Plate Production Plant he commissioned was expected to localise production of digital number plates at a competitive costs.
Meanwhile, one of the graduating students at UZ yesterday, Munashe Gahadza scored a record breaking 40 distinctions out of a possible 44 and was awarded a first class BSc Honours degree in Actuarial Science. Gahadza also won the UZ Book Prize and was named the Faculty’s best graduating student and most consistent student.
