NEWLY-appointed Lupane State University (LSU) Vice-Chancellor Pardon Kuipa has set January next year as relocation date for the institution from Bulawayo to its Lupane campus.
BY Luyanduhlobo Makwati
Kuipa said he would be the first to move to Lupane in January and will occupy one of the warden houses. “I know people would say I want to take them to Lupane and I remain in Bulawayo, that won’t be the case,” Kuipa said.
“My office will be here and we will work with the community here. Actually, I will demand that I be given one of the sub-warden houses because I need to be on the ground working.” He was speaking during a tour of the campus last Thursday. Kuipa added: “We all know that Treasury is not getting enough funds, hence the grants we are allocated are not coming on time.
“As an institution, we are happy and grateful that we are one of the universities that the government has given money even though it was not adequate. What we have received has assisted us to complete these structures that will be used by our students come January.”
Funding challenges have been blamed for hampering plans to relocate the university from its rented Bulawayo premises, nearly 10 years after it opened its doors for the first intake. The university is reportedly spending more than $100 000 per month on rentals alone.
About $8,6 million was allocated to the institution by government as development grant for the 2015 financial year, but the university has only received less than $2 million from Treasury and about $18 million from Zimbabwe Development Fund.
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Administration blocks, lecture theatres and classrooms, two sub warden houses have already been completed while a block of staff flats is at roof level.
Kuipa was appointed substantive vice-chancellor this year taking over from the late Mclean Bhala, who was acting since the inception of the institution.
He will be inaugurated by the university Chancellor President Robert Mugabe at the institution’s 6th graduation ceremony to be held on November 27.
