UMAA Zimbabwe University (UZU), a private university owned by UMAA Group of Colleges, will open its doors to the public next January, becoming the first institution of higher learning in Mashonaland East province.
by Jairos Saunyama
The university will offer studies in agriculture, business and education, among others.
UMAA Group of Colleges founder Cleopas Kundiona told NewsDay yesterday that the university’s January 2017 intake would start in September this year.
“We are expanding the UMAA Institute of Agriculture in the Chihota area, that is now called UZU. The project is now 90% complete and will begin operations in January without fail,” he said.
“In three to four months’ time, registration will begin. We have done all the necessary paperwork and procedures as required by various stakeholders like ZIMCHE (Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education).
“We will be offering eight faculties like Robert Mugabe Faculty of Education, UMAA Faculty of Agriculture and Simon Muzenda School of Carpentry, with students being awarded diplomas and degrees in the different faculties. This is a milestone to us, after having contributed much to the education sector since 1987.”
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The project is being funded by the UMANIAN Kingdom and a local bank.
UZU will become the first tertiary institution in the province after government’s proposed Marondera University of Agriculture failed to take shape.
The Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) as well as Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ), who were also given the nod to construct universities in the province, are yet to hit the ground.
CPCA is expected to construct its university at Rufaro Longlands Farm in Marondera, while MCZ will have its campus built near Waddilove High School.
“UZU will be the first university in the province, and we will be ready to work well with other institutions that will come after us,” Kundiona said.
“Initially, the university was pegged for Marondera, but we had to move it to Chihota after realising that we already had buildings lying idle there.”
