In a direct copy of former President Robert Mugabe’s Fort Hare University presidential scholarship, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to also establish his own scholarship programme to support Zimbabwean students to further their studies at the University of Zambia (UNZA).
Speaking after his conferment with a Special Honorary PhD Degree by UNZA on Saturday, Mnangagwa said his Government regards education as a key ingredient in driving the industrialisation agenda and establishing a middle-income economy by 2030.
President Mnangagwa, who expressed deep graduate for the recognition and honour given to him 44 years after he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the same university, said he was inspired to do more in support of the education sector in the country, including establishing synergies with regional and international universities.
“As a proud alumnus of this university, I am aware that this is the highest recognition that a university can award an individual. To give other young people the opportunity to experience learning at this great institution, I will be awarding Presidential Scholarships to deserving candidates to study at the University of Zambia,” said the President.
“We should encourage our people to benefit from each other’s education systems. My Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Development (Prof Amon Murwira) is here with me and I have directed that we see more collaboration between the universities in our two countries.”
Like Mnangagwa, Mugabe graduated from the South African Fort Hare University, was conferred with an honorary degree after which he established his presidential scholarship for young Zimbabweans to the university.
President Mnangagwa applauded the close bond between Zambia and Zimbabwe, popularly described as “Siamese twins” as the two states have shared cordial bilateral relations since pre-colonial times and worked closely together during the liberation struggle up to date.
Equally, President Mnangagwa said his personal life experience testifies the solidarity between the two neighbouring states. He said Zambia will always remain dear to him as he personally associated with the country as far back as the 1950s when he arrived as a lad from the then Southern Rhodesia.
“It was here in Zambia where my political awareness was nurtured through involvement in student anti-colonial politics, while serving as one of the youth league leaders of UNIP, here in Lusaka,” he recalled.
“My years at UNZA further enhanced my capacity to play a meaningful role, both in the liberation of my beloved country and in the post-independent Zimbabwe. My foundational years here in Zambia and at UNZA remain invaluable.”