The history of the National University of Science & Technology (NUST) in Zimbabwe
The history of the National University of Science & Technology (NUST).
On 10 August 1990, Professor Phinias Makhurane, then Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Zimbabwe met Dr Elijah Chanakira, then Permanent Secretary for Higher Education. The news was that Mr David Karimanzira, the Minster of Higher Education wanted to create a Foundation Committee to spearhead a new university in Bulawayo and the Professor was asked to serve as the Chairman.
In 1982, he had chaired the University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor’s committee of inquiry into the failure rate at the university during the 1980 – 81 academic year. The committee noted that soon after independence in 1980, the secondary school system had significantly expanded. Government policy became universal access to primary and secondary education.
The large numbers admitted into form 1 classes in 1980 reached ‘A’ level in 1985. From 1986, there was a large demand for university places. The U.Z would not be able to cope with the high numbers of student applications. The commission of inquiry then recommended the establishment of a second university by 1985.
None of its recommendations were deemed urgent by neither the U.Z nor the government until 1987. Then, Professor Makhurane suggested to U.Z Vice Chancellor, Professor Walter Kamba to formally write government to recommend a presidential commission of inquiry into establishing a second campus of the University of Zimbabwe or possibly setting up a second university in the country. Professor Makhurane submitted a draft of the terms of reference for the proposed commission.
Later, Government announced Peter Williams from the Commonwealth Secretariat in London as Chairman of a Presidential Commission of inquiry into setting up a second university in Zimbabwe. The commission had:-
Peter Williams (Chairman), Mr S.Q Mphisa (Commission Secretary), Dr. S. Mahlahla, Prof. R.J Amonoo, Rev. G. Malaba, Prof. E.A Ngara, Mrs R.S Dangarembwa, Mr M.F Haddon, Prof. Z. Krajina, Mr S.C Mumbengegwi, Dr. G. Sikipa
After consultations in and outside Zimbabwe, 2 options were settled on. Either setting up a second U.Z campus or an autonomous university. The location was also considered as was population size, accessibility by road, air and rail and a capacity to accommodate a university institution including water, electricity, sewer and land availability. Their findings, tabled to the President in February 1989 were:-
- A new independent university in Bulawayo
- University with a science and technology bias
- Compliment U.Z programmes
- Government to action on the report and appoint a Vice Chancellor soon after June 1989 to enable 5 year period of preparations.
- Start construction of university, recruit and train staff and admit first intake of students in March 1993.
Recommendations were not implemented until 10 August 1990 when Professor Makhurane was appointed Chairman of the NUST foundation committee along with 22 other members:-
Prof. P. Makhurane (Chairman), Prof. C.J Chetsanga, Dr. E.J Chanakira, Dr. S. Mbengengwi, Mr A. Maboyi – Ncube, Dr J.B Dube, Mr V.R.M Nyathi, Mr N. Kudenga, Mrs Salome D. Nyoni, Mr A. Moyo, Mr P.S Mahlangu, Mr N. Mabodoko, Justice G. Chinengundu, Dr MN Mambo, Dr M.M Ndubiwa, Mr W. Bako, Mr F. Munezvenyu, Dr S. Muchena, Engineer P.M Kodzwa, Mr A. Read, Mr R. Chitrin, Engineer M. Grant, Mr E.W Sansole.
Minister David Karimanzira formally launched the foundation committee at the Bulawayo city hall on 17 August 1990. He announced that the team only had six months for preparations to get the university up and running. The city of Bulawayo had donated 160 hectares of virgin land to government for the university construction. In time, contractors had dug a crater on the land to extract and left a gaping hole on the land which made it look unattractive. The offer stood since the BCC could only give away this land which government had accepted, located 6km east of Bulawayo along Gwanda road.
Another option was a piece of land in the Burnside area, donated by Vice President Joshua Nkomo and was reportedly larger than the one donated by the BCC. The elevated piece of land made the proposed university more visible from most locations in Bulawayo. It’s alleged that the government was reluctant since the land’s ownership could not be verified. The committee did not see this land.
Professor Makhurane was released by the U.Z on temporary loan to the NUST foundation committee on a semi full time basis. His first lodgings were at a United College of Education guest house. Courtesy of the UCE, he also had access to Kwanongoma Music Centre where he shared a temporary office with Ms Ketiwe Dhliwayo, seconded from Harare by Dr Michael Mambo, then Deputy Secretary for Higher Education to help with Administration.
When the foundation committee was launched, the 1990/91 budget had already been tabled. No funds were available for the proposed university’s preparatory work. The committee was thus authorized to independently negotiate for bridging finances. They got a loan of Z $500k from the Zimbabwe Development Fund (ZIMDEF).
The foundation committee was split into three subcommittees; Academic, Buildings and Finance. All were chaired by Professor Makhurane but decisions were taken collectively. The Academic subcommittee made recommendations on degree programmes, the curriculum, degree regulations, student enrolment, admissions and academic staff recruitment. Finance subcommittee dealt with budgets, non-academic staff recruitment, salaries and conditions of service. The Buildings subcommittee negotiated with Bulawayo individuals and organizations for rental space for teaching and office accommodation.
The Academic subcommittee recommended starting with 3 faculties; Commerce, Applied Sciences and Industrial Technology. The Faculty of Commerce was first located at the United College of Education, consisting of two large classrooms and 8 offices. Total staff was seven. The Industrial Technology and sciences faculty was based at the Bulawayo Polytechnic and Hillside College. Computer Science and Applied Maths departments were based at ZDECO.
The headquarters of the new university later moved to Pioneer House, 9th Floor, corner Fife Street and 18th Avenue. Mr Michael Kariwo was the first Registrar and Mr Lameck Sithole the Bursar, was based at Parkade Centre owned by the Railways Pension Fund, on the 7th floor.
The university bought its first building at 114 Fort Street for Z $1,2million and turned it into a temporary library. The Students Union, Chaplain, Dean of students and the Senate Boardroom were also in this building.
Students’ accommodation was at the Bulawayo Polytechnic, Elangeni Public Service Training Centre, Westagate Vocational Training Centre and Railway Training Centre which accommodated 40, 65, 15 and 20 students respectively. The majority found accommodation wherever they could around Bulawayo.
When staff was in place, NUST solicited for applications and received over 2 000 responses. The target number was smaller – 100 students in the faculties of Applied Science and Commerce and 60 in Industrial Technology. Only the ‘best’ got places. By 1 March 1991 NUST had sent out 270 admission offer letters.
How NUST got its name
In 1990, Professor Makhurane served as a member of the Ministry of Higher Education whose task was to draft the legal instrument to govern the new university. It was chaired by Dr Samuel Mumbengegwi who asked Professor Makhurane to draft a bill to be presented to Parliament. In the draft, Professor Makhurane suggested the name ‘Bulawayo University of Science and Technology’ (BUST). Most of his recommendations sailed through except the suggested name.
Another suggestion was to substitute ‘Bulawayo’ for ‘Zimbabwe’ which failed because there was already a University of ‘Zimbabwe’. As a national institution, it was felt that the name National University of Science and Technology was more suitable despite the fact that it was not linked to a specific place where the university was located.
When the NUST bill passed, a Council of 43 members was appointed in accordance with the act effectively replacing the Foundation Committee. The first Chairman of the Council was Mr Peter Mhlanga, deputized by Justice Washington Sansole. When the Vice Chancellor post was advertised, Professor Makhurane was recommended by the Foundation Committee, accepted by the Minister and officially confirmed by President Robert Mugabe on 19 May 1991.
Sources: Prof Phinias Makhurane - An Autobiography
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