LUPANE State University (LSU) has purchased residential stands in Jotsholo for its academic and non-academic staff as it begins a phased process of relocating to its Matabeleland North site. NQOBANI NDLOVU STAFF REPORTER
Funding constraints have hampered plans to relocate the university from its rented Bulawayo premises, about 170km from its site, nearly nine years after it opened its doors for its first intake. Acting LSU vice-chancellor Getrude Nyakutse said the relocation would be done in phases “as accommodation becomes available”, since housing stands have been bought.
“The priority projects are student accommodation, staff accommodation, health facilities and sports fields,” she said at last week’s graduation.
“Towards this end, the university has purchased over 50 residential stands in Jotsholo for staff accommodation.
“Makomo Resources, a local mining company, has donated over 40 thousand bricks towards the construction of staff housing.
“We continue to pursue the triple ‘Ps (private, public partnerships), with the hope that we can expedite the relocation agenda.”
President Robert Mugabe capped 484 graduands, of which 139 of them were diplomas and the remaining 315 were conferred with various degrees. The graduands were drawn from the faculties of arts, agricultural science and social science, among others.
“We need to move to our site in Lupane and experience the discomfort so that we can expedite the building process,” Nyakutse said.
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“Remaining in our comfort zone in Bulawayo will simply increase inertia. Being comfortable may become the impediment to relocation.”
The acting vice-chancellor said the university was pursuing timber and hunting concessions to augment government funding and raise necessary funds for relocation.
“We are also pursuing a hunting concession for both commercial activities and supporting student practicals for the wildlife management degree,” she said.
