The Sunday News
Lovemore Chikova in Lusaka, Zambia
IT was all smiles and jokes when President Mnangagwa yesterday interacted with students studying at the University of Zambia under his bursary programme known as the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa University of Zambia Scholarship Programme (ED-UNZA).
The students are studying programmes such as law, medicine, geology, agronomy and actuarial science.
President Mnangagwa made sure he interacted with each of the students, inquiring about the courses they were undertaking.
He reminded the students that he also studied law at the University of Zambia.
The President joked with the students as they revealed their courses to him.
For the student who introduced herself as studying agronomy, President Mnangagwa, who is carrying out successful farming operations at his Precabe Farm in Kwekwe, said: “You study agronomy, when you finish the course come to me and I will give you a job.”
While interacting with the student who is studying geology, President Mnangagwa commented that his course will help the country discover more minerals.
To the one studying actuarial science, the President said: “Actuarial science? Mupfana une brain.”
In interviews after the brief meeting, the students expressed their gratitude to President Mnangagwa for offering them a rare opportunity to proceed with their education.
Nomsa Ncube (23), a final-year law student who comes from Tsholotsho, said, being an orphan, her dreams to continue with education could have ended had it not been for the President.
“I am a fourth-year final student at the UNZA,” she said. “My father passed on when I was a year old and my mother passed on when I was four. My mum’s sister took me in and sent me to school until A-level, where I attained 14 points.
“Then I had to apply for a scholarship because my mother’s sister had to help other children who were also siblings of mine to go to school.
“To the other girls, I say never give up. I would advise them to work hard because every dream comes true with working hard. At the end of the day, you will reap what you sow. Don’t let those dreams end because there are people out there like the President who are ready to pick you up. I am doing my best to raise the Zimbabwean flag high, as I am the vice president of the UNZA International Students Association.”
Another law student, Rachel Zvomuya (29), who comes from Domboshava, said she came across the advert for the ED-UNZA scholarship on a University of Zimbabwe portal.
“The advert was looking for students to be pioneers in the scholarship programme and that is when I said let me take the opportunity,” she said.
“I applied and after that I received a call that I had been selected to study law at UNZA.”
Nyasha Mushonga, a fourth-year medicine student who comes from Mutoko, said she was grateful to President Mnangagwa’s benevolence.
“I saw a notice in the newspaper and applied,” she said.
“I started my ward rounds this year. I am deeply grateful to the President for offering me the scholarship. I will always be indebted to him.”
FBC Insurance Company head of operations Mr Matipedza Lole, who also talked to President Mnangagwa, said he was in Zambia to seal deals with hospitals for students on the ED-UNZA scholarship to be treated under the company’s health insurance.
“I am from FBC health insurance. We cover all the students on the UNZA scheme. We make sure they get treated when they are here and even when they travel back to Harare,” he said.
“I had come to make sure that we have agreements with hospitals so that the students can get treated here.”
President Mnangagwa launched his scholarship programme in 2021 to assist students from disadvantaged families to pursue tertiary education.
