My name is Arnold Bhebhe and I am a lecturer in creative industries at Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom.
By Arnold Bhebhe
I was born and bred at Inyathi, a mission station about 40km north of the city of Bulawayo.
My parents were schoolteachers there and were passionate about the educational development of the local community.
We were a family of nine children and times were generally hard for black people in the then Rhodesia, yet my parents somehow had the strength and ability to “adopt” some local young people who, just like us, they sent to school.
Today, those boys and girls are people of stature within the community as responsible and useful citizens of the world.
In the heart of the then Matabele Kingdom, Inyathi Mission was founded in 1859 by a Scottish missionary, Robert Moffat, the father-in-law of the celebrated David Livingstone.
Inyathi became the first evangelical mission station in Zimbabwe to offer education to native people.
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This mission station has barely transformed as an educational institution compared to other institutions that were founded later in other parts of Zimbabwe, a number of which offer tertiary education up to university level.
Because Inyathi only offers primary and secondary education the vast communities of Matabeleland North still remain underdeveloped.
The 1980s post-independence dissident activity in Matabeleland meant that the government of Zimbabwe disinvested from the region and unleashed a crack army unit which massacred over 20 000 civilians, including my own brother and sister.
Most of the victims were breadwinners, professionals and experts in various fields including education, health, agriculture and trade. A lot more were displaced with some seeking sanctuary in neighbouring countries where many remain.
With the loss of these breadwinners, surviving children could not meaningfully pursue their education as they had to seek employment to fend for their siblings.
The mass murders and exodus of teachers also meant that the schools lacked adequate professionals.
For this reason, the government has over the years imported teaching staff many of whom neither speak the local language nor identify with the culture of the communities in the region.
In many cases, these teachers are deployed to teach at the crucial levels of primary school where the mother tongue plays a central role in helping pupils grasp learning concepts.
As a result, academic attainment has been generally low with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm and incentive in learning among youngsters.
An alternative for them is to skip the border to seek employment abroad as they cannot make it at home.
Why the university: This campaign is about establishing an independent university at Inyathi Mission in the region of Matabeleland North.
Establishing this university in this underdeveloped region will: Provide a university education for the young adults, Catalyse investment and development in the region, Provide the region with the professionalism and expertise it so badly needs to develop, Provide our children in the region with the incentive to learn, not only to better themselves, but also invest the knowledge they acquire in the upliftment of the region and beyond, Usher in a spirit of self-empowerment and determination to achieve and attain their aspirations.
What the university will offer: lTeaching degrees (primary and secondary school). It is intended that the University of Inyathi (UI) be the first to offer such degrees in Zimbabwe.
These are necessary in ensuring that graduates meet the required international teaching standards. Currently Zimbabwe offers diplomas in this field.
Nursing degrees: It is also intended that this university be the first in Zimbabwe to offer such degrees in trend with international standards. Currently, Zimbabwe offers diplomas in this field.
Computing; Agriculture; Tourism; Linguistics; Journalism and Creative Industries; Engineering.
What has been achieved: The Inyathi Mission authorities have provided 200 hectares of land on which to develop this project, The university charter and project plan have been drawn up, Committees have been set up to address different aspects of the project: These include: steering committee, education committee, legal committee, construction/development committee, finance committee.
What help can you provide: To kickstart the project, we appeal for any monetary donations, no matter how small, to contribute towards the target of $110 000. This money will address the following urgent needs: Registration of the project: $30 000, Fencing off the allocated plot: $60 000, Sending surveyors to study topography of the plot: $20 000.
With the land established we can then start to build the campus buildings and train the lecturers and administrators and we will be looking for volunteers to help soon with this next phase. We will then also be collecting books, desks and computers.
How your donations will be acknowledged: For donations up to $60 a personalised thank you email shall be sent to you and we will keep you updated about the progress of Inyathi University.
For donations between $61-$ 1000 a thank you e-mail and your name entered in a register to be perpetually maintained and kept by the institution.
This register will be open for inspection to all donors. We will also offer a student excellence award in the name of your choice.
For donations between $1 001 and $10 000, a thank you email, your name entered in the register and the name of your choice carved on a foundation stone we intend to erect at the university site.
A student excellence award can also be offered, if desired. For any donations over $10 000 you will receive an acknowledgement email, your name entered into the register and name carved on the stone, and buildings, pathways or roads within the university will be named after you.
Friends, please help us achieve this most needed dream. Remember, as the late Nelson Mandela once put it: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Please give the people of Matabeleland North the chance to change their world and save the next generation.
I humbly thank you for your support.
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