…as three graduate posthumously
By Sharon Chimenya
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa capped over 3 000 graduands during Great Zimbabwe University’s 20th graduation ceremony, held at the university’s main campus on Friday.
The ceremony, originally scheduled for October 7 was postponed to today (23 October) after a hailstorm lashed through the city on October 5, leaving many counting their losses.
A total of 3 496 graduands were conferred with degrees.
Tragically, the university lost two of its graduands on Thursday in a car accident on their way to Masvingo for the graduation ceremony.
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo observed a moment of silence for Maxwell Katsvara and Tatenda Ngandu, who died on Thursday, and Simbarashe Chimuchenga, who also passed away during the course of the year.
“We gather here this morning in a sombre state of mind after receiving the news that two of our graduands died in a car accident yesterday as they were travelling here to attend the graduation ceremony,” he said.
Simbarashe Chimuchenga and Tatenda Ngandu, graduated posthumously with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Regional and Urban Planning, and Maxwell Katsvara, graduated posthumously with a degree in Development Studies.”
This year’s graduation ran under the theme,“Driving Rural Industrialisation through Research and Innovation,” which Professor Zvobgo said captures the essence of the university’s identity.
Of note, 63 percent of the graduating class were women.
Of the 3 496 graduands, 2 461 are undergraduates, 1 035 are postgraduates, 71 graduated with distinctions, 308 graduated in STEM disciplines while eight were PhD graduands, three Master of Philosophy graduands, and 187 were international students from Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone and Zambia. In addition, 12 were students living with disabilities, and 14 were staff development fellows who benefited from the university’s human capital development programme.
Professor Zvobgo said the numbers in the graduating class are not only statistics but a representation of resilience and a nation investing in the future.
“We are particularly proud to celebrate the inaugural graduating cohorts in the BSc in Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology, Bachelor of Social Work, MPhil in Physiology, and DPhil in Pharmacology. These figures are more than statistics. They represent stories of perseverance, sacrifice, resilience, guidance and support. And they represent a nation investing in its future. Today, Great Zimbabwe University returns these graduates to Zimbabwe, not simply as degree holders, but as human capital for national transformation,” he said.
Six graduands received the coveted Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Cash Prize Award for being the overall best graduates. Tawanda Majeza, Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Culture, and Constance Gwamure, Bachelor of Education Honours Degree (Primary Pre-Service), were awarded the Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Cash Prize of US$1,000 each for being the best male and female graduating students respectively.
Kim Shingairai Mhaka, Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Culture, and Memory Svorai Mutorera, Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Peace, Conflict and Governance, were awarded the Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Cash Prize of US$500 each for being the second-best male and female graduating students respectively.
Brandon Gobvu, Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Psychology, was awarded the Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Cash Prize of US$500 for the best graduating student in the Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Psychology, while Rabhelani Mthabisi Mguni, Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Gender Studies, was awarded the Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Cash Prize of US$500 for the best graduating student in the Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Gender Studies.
Among the graduates was former Masvingo Provincial Education Director Zedias Chitiga, who Professor Zvobgo described as having embarked on a five-year law degree programme through courage and tenacity as he entered retirement.
“This is indeed a feat which a few accomplish in their lifetime. I congratulate you today and all other courageous men and women who have taken a decisive step in changing their careers.”
