The Sunday News
Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE construction of the US$30 million Lupane State University (LSU) student hostels is set to change the economic face of Matabeleland North, with key stakeholders expecting the project to cement Lupane’s position as the economic nerve centre of the province while improving the learning experience for students at the institution.
Construction has already started on the project, which has been instituted by the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) under its University Students and Staff Accommodation Programme (USSAP).
IDBZ has already engaged the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) to carry out an environmental and social impact assessment on the proposed construction of the 1 000-roomed students’ complex.
The past two decades have recorded a surge in the enrolment at universities and the current number is estimated to be more than 70 000, with only 11 000 having accommodation provided by the institutions.
Lupane State University
The Lupane project is expected to be bigger than the one at the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo and would therefore allow the university to increase its capacity and take in more students.
After the completion of construction work in Lupane, Government is expected to roll out similar projects in Bindura, Chinhoyi and other parts of the country where State universities are located.
In an interview Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo said that the hostels had the potential to enhance growth in the province as they could become the economic nerve centre of not only Lupane but other surrounding areas.
“The hostels will change everything because they will speed development not only in Lupane but other towns and villages. This is the capital of the province so whatever economic developments that take place in Lupane are felt in other parts of our province,” he said.
LSU director of marketing and communications Mr Zwelithini Dhlamini said that the hostels will allow students to focus exclusively on their studies, without the added pressure of securing accommodation. Mr Dhlamini said that the hostels would also give the university a chance to alleviate the power and internet connectivity issues that students have been facing.
Mr Zwelithini Dhlamini
“The Student Halls of residence being constructed by IDBZ would go a long way in alleviating accommodation challenges at the Main Campus. The availability of adequate accommodation will also improve the quality of the learning environment as students will focus more on their studies and less on accommodation, landlords and ever-changing rentals. Furthermore, the ambiance of the hostels will enable the students to have access to uninterrupted power and Wi-Fi, which is typical of modern universities,” he said.
When Sunday News visited the project site recently, workmen were busy constructing two wardens’ houses. In a notice, IDBZ environmental and social impact assessments were being carried out.
“Although the proposed construction project has immense potential positive impacts, that include provision of students and staff accommodation, employment creation for men and women, and the creation of community infrastructure, it has some immediate negative environmental and social impacts which include vegetation clearance, noise, dust, waste generation, and surface and groundwater contamination.
“Mitigation measures will include the sprinkling of water on roads to minimise dust, equipment fitted with mufflers and ensuring that clearance of vegetation is confined to the project site only,” reads part of the notice.
