By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been officially appointed Chancellor of the Zimbabwe National Defence University.

Mnangagwa was conferred with the status when he officially launched the institution on Thursday.

Addressing delegates at the launch ceremony, Mnangagwa called on the university to come up with ideas and innovations that will spur the country’s economic growth.

Said Mnangagwa:

“The emergence of this university is not only timely, but also opportune as it enhances the development of human capital in various disciplines in the context of defence, security and the protection of our territorial integrity.

The university is joining the higher and tertiary education sector following a paradigm shift with regards to the contribution of institutions of higher learning to the revival, industrialisation, modernisation and growth of our country.

To this end, the university must proffer, dynamic, cutting edge ideas, insights, skills and innovations that will set our country on a new economic growth trajectory.

I, therefore, challenge the university to complement other institutions of higher learning in areas of research needed to understand and authoritatively analyse contemporary national issues using both theoretical and empirical tools for pragmatic and realistic outcomes.”-StateMedia