Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) left a lasting impression on the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development during a visit to the institution’s Fernhill campus in Mutare on Monday.
The Committee, led by its Chairperson, Honourable Dr Thokozani Khupe, applauded the university’s efforts to uphold high standards in education delivery, infrastructure development and agricultural innovation.
“Education must be taken seriously as it is closely linked to national development, especially through the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model, which integrates research, innovation, and industrialisation into our teaching and learning systems,” said Honourable Khupe. “Zimbabwe is richly endowed with natural resources, and institutions of higher learning must harness this heritage to produce goods and services that can be exported. We are greatly impressed by the vibrant farming activities at MSUAS’s Innovation and Agro-Industrial Park in Headlands. Such strides in agricultural production contribute significantly to national self-sufficiency and economic resilience.
MSUAS Vice Chancellor, Professor Albert Chawanda, expressed gratitude for the Committee’s visit, describing it as a strong affirmation of Parliament’s commitment to advancing higher education and innovation.
“We are deeply honoured to host the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on this important visit, which highlights the critical role Parliament plays in supporting the development of our higher education sector. With the invaluable support of the Government of Zimbabwe, MSUAS has embarked on transformative infrastructure and development projects aligned with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 — particularly in the areas of human capital development, rural industrialisation, and innovation,” said Professor Chawanda.
Dr Khupe was accompanied by Committee Members, Hon Otilia Sibanda, Hon Patricia Machangu, Hon Makope Master, Hon Mxolisi Sibanda, Hon Bridget Nyandoro and Hon Juliana Makuvire. Also in attendance were officials from Parliament of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, along with MSUAS principal officers and senior management.
The visit formed part of the Committee’s nationwide initiative to gain first-hand insights into the achievements and challenges faced by institutions of higher learning as they contribute to Zimbabwe’s socio-economic transformation.
