…as Minister Chadzamira graduates with Master’s
By Perpetua Murungweni
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has celebrated a historic achievement with the graduation of its first deaf student at its 18th graduation held at the university’s main campus on Friday (November 1).
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Jonasi Zvobgo said the graduation of a deaf student was one of the major highlights of the ceremony.
“Among the highlights of this year’s graduation is our first deaf or hard of hearing graduate who graduates with a Bachelor of Education in sign language Memory Manyera,” said Prof Zvobgo.
Prof Zvobgo also acknowledged another graduand whom he said was physically challenged but managed to graduate.
“Manyera graduated along with one physically challenged student Velaphi Gumbo who graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Inclusive Education,” he said.
Among the graduands was the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and one of the iconic musicians Jonah Moyo of the ‘Solo naMutsai’ fame.
“Among this year’s graduates is the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira, who will graduate with a Master of Commerce in Strategic Management. We will also witness the conferment of Honorary Doctorates on one well deserving and luminary Zimbabwean musician, Jonah Moyo, who will receive the Doctor of Philosophy in Creative and Performing Arts,” said Zvobgo.
The University witnessed four of its most outstanding female and male graduates of the class of 2024 receiving the coveted Chancellor’s Awards for being the overall best graduates. Gwatidzo Laureen Kudzai, Bachelor of Science Honors in Peace Conflict and Governance was the overall best female student and Mercy Msipa was second overall best female student graduating with a Bachelor Science Honors in Mathematics. Andreas Jasi was the overall best male student graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce Honors in Economics and Finance while Kudakwashe Emmanuel Gwini was the second overall best male student obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Honors in Musicology and Ethno choreology.
50 graduands received awards for being the best performing students in their programmes.
Of the 4467 graduands, a slight drop from last year’s 4899, are 1237 postgraduates and 11 who graduated with doctorate degrees while one received a Master of Philosophy degree.
The graduation ceremony was running under the theme, “Upscaling Innovation and Industrialization towards Vision 2030” and saw a total number of 4 465 graduands being capped, with 2,849 females and 1,616 males celebrating their academic achievements.
Gary Magadzire School of Agriculture and Engineering had 73 graduands, Julius Nyerere School of Social Sciences with 1 034 graduands, Herbert Chitepo School of Law and Business Sciences had 1 476 graduands, Robert Gabriel Mugabe School of Heritage and Education had 1 710 graduands and the School of Natural Sciences had a total of 172 graduands.
