MSU Impresses At ZITF 2016
Cultural Carnival: A Success
MSU Crowned ZUSA Champions for
the Third Time Running
Editorial
In Pursuit of Academic, Research
and Sporting Excellence
Mrs M Mawere, Acting Director,
Information and Public Relations
W
elcome to yet another
edition of the Pulse. In
this edition, we
celebrate the different milestones
that have been achieved by the
University since our last
publication.
Topping the list of achievements is
the awarding of the International
Star for Leadership in Quality to
the University by the Business
Initiative Directions (BID). The
award, which was presented to
the Vice-Chancellor, Professor N
M Bhebe, in Paris, is in recognition
of the University's 'outstanding
business achievements, for
perseverance and leadership in
excellence, and quality'.
Other notable achievements
include the historic University
Chapel groundbreaking
ceremony, which will see the
construction of a University
Chapel commencing at the
Gweru Main Campus. The chapel
which has been a long time
coming is set to contribute to the
spiritual development of the
University community as a whole.
Outside developments of a
spiritual nature, other
developments that took place
where in the realm of physical
wellbeing as Midlands State
University proved once again its
dominance as a sporting
powerhouse, clinching the
Zimbabwe Universities Sports
Association games (ZUSA) for a
third time in a row.
Elsewhere, in the pages that
follow, we celebrate the diversity
of our University community, as we
feature the 2016 edition of the
MSU International Cultural
Diversity Carnival held on Friday
the 6th of May. We also look at
MSU's participation at the
country's premier trade event, the
Zimbabwe International Trade
Fair, which ran from the 26th to the
30th of April 2016.
And on that note, dear readers
allow me to end by saying in the
words of an acclaimed business
management consultant,
educator, and author, Peter
Drucker, 'quality in a service or
product is not what you put into it.
It is what the customers gets out of
it'.
So until next time happy reading!!
Contacts
Editorial Team
Mirirai Mawere
Reginald Nyango
Simbarashe Namusi
Rumbidzai Mudenge
Ishmael Hamandishe
Munashe Mudzingwa
Vanessa Moyo
Martha Charles
Credence Sithole
Midlands State University,
P Bag 9055, Gweru.
Tel: 054-260404/260496/260568.
1
Campus & Community
MSU Awarded International Star for Leadership in Quality
B
arely a year after being awarded the International Gold Star for
Quality, 'in recognition of its outstanding commitment to quality and
excellence', in Geneva, Midlands State University under the astute and
visionary leadership of Professor Ngwabi M Bhebe has received further
recognition for its commitment to excellence, landing yet another prestigious
International Star for Leadership in Quality. The much coveted international
award is in recognition of the University's 'outstanding business achievements,
perseverance and leadership in excellence, and quality'.
With a seasoned academic and veteran educationalist at its helm, Midlands
State University has over the years successfully ventured into uncharted
waters in the higher education sector to emerge as one of Zimbabwe's
premier institutions of higher learning. The International Star for Leadership in
Quality awarded to the University by the Business Initiative Directions (BID) in
accordance with the international QC 100 Total Quality Management Model
(TQM) aptly captures MSU's firm commitment to excellence.
The TQM model serves as a guideline for business leaders in the
improvement of processes and systems with a specific
thrust towards transforming organisations or
institutions into customer-focused entities.
Customer satisfaction is therefore the ultimate
goal, with organisations striving to continuously
improve everything they do in the preparation,
production and delivery of both products and
services.
Recipients of the International Star for
Leadership in Quality must undergo a rigorous
selection process as well as satisfy a well
calibrated QC 100 selection criteria. Candidates
for the awards are selected through the
International Committee for Selection of
2
Campus & Community
MSU Awarded International Star for Leadership in Quality
Candidates, comprising company leaders from more
than 90 countries who meet annually in London, Paris,
Frankfurt, New York and Geneva. Once selection is
complete, winners are determined through a voting
process that takes place at three levels, that is voting by
the BID Council, voting by previous awardees, and
participating companies as well as through a BID online
survey.
Having fully satisfied the selection criteria, Midlands State
University was awarded the International Star for
Leadership in Quality at the 20th International Star for
Leadership in Quality Convention, in Paris, France. The
award was presented to the Midlands State University,
Vice-Chancellor, Professor N.M. Bhebe by the BID
president, Jose E Prieto at a glittering awards ceremony
held on Sunday the 1st of May 2016.
The International Star for Leadership in Quality, is not only
a welcome addition, to the long list of accolades won by
the University over the years, but also reaffirms the
institution commitment to its vision to be a pace-setting
and stakeholder driven institution.
The convention, which ran from the 30th of April to the 1st
of May 2016 brought together global business leaders,
professionals from various fields, quality experts,
academics and representatives from the diplomatic
corps.
'BID is a global community composed of businesses and
organizations that are passionate about quality
improvement and active learning. This community has
developed a program led by seasoned business
professionals, in collaboration with universities, whose
goal is to create opportunities to transform the way the
professional world works.’
3
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ngwabi M Bhebe
Pandora’s Box
Amazing Animal Facts that May Surprise You
·
Octopuses have three hearts.
·
Butterflies can taste with their feet
·
Sharks kill fewer than 10 people per year. Humans kill about 100 million sharks
per year.
·
Wild dolphins call each other by name.
·
Elephants have a specific alarm call that means "human."
·
Horses use facial expressions to communicate with each other.
·
Owls don't have eyeballs. They have eye tubes
·
A human brain operates on about 15 watts.
·
African buffalo herds display voting behavior, in which individuals register their
travel preference by standing up, looking in one direction and then lying back
down. Only adult females can vote.
·
Fourteen new species of dancing frogs were discovered in 2014, raising the
global number of known dancing-frog species to 24
·
The last animal you might expect to see in Africa is a penguin, but they are
there. There is a colony living near the cape in South Africa. They are attracted
to the cold currents there.
·
What large animal kills the most people in Africa? Not the lion, and not the
crocodile; it is in fact the hippo. The males are very territorial and will attack
anything that enters their area. Females aggressively protect their babies.
Hippos have even been known to kill crocodiles.
·
Four of the five fastest land animals in the world are found on the African
continent. They are the Cheetah, Wildebeest, Lion, and the Thomson's gazelle.
·
The Wildebeest, Lion, and the Thomson's gazelle can reach a speed of up to 50
mph (80.47 KPH) for short burst. The Cheetah can hit an unbelievable 70 mph
(112.65 KPH) for short burst.
4
Campus & Community
MSU Cultural Carnival: A Success
“
It is every
citizen's
right to
have the
pleasure and
space
to practice and
express one's
culture....
“
Students from various countries wearing their African cultural attires
A
s part of efforts to celebrate cultural diversity, Midlands State University
held an International Cultural Diversity Carnival on Friday the 6th of May
2016.
The Carnival, which is held in line with UNESCO's Universal Declaration on Cultural
Diversity, ran under the theme 'Preforming Arts as Cultural Capital: Promoting
Sustainable, Socio-Cultural Development in Africa'. The celebrations saw the
University being transformed into a kaleidoscope of cultural dress and the
majority of staff members and students alike, turned out cladded in their cultural
attires to mark the University's diversity.
The Cultural Diversity Carnival, which is an annual event aimed at fostering and
underlining the importance of cultural diversity and harmony among students
and staff, drew participation of international students from Mozambique, Nigeria,
5
Cultural Carnival: A Success
Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, South Sudan, Angola and Malawi.
A host of activities ranging from poetry, art and craft exhibitions, a fashion
show, and music and dance performances characterised performances of
the day. Among the groups that participated were the MSU Music and
Musicology mbira and electric ensembles, Generation for Peace, Takwirira
Primary School Traditional Dance group, Cecil John Rhodes Marimba group,
Volt poetry, Nyanduri, Narcissity and Team Bhoo among others. The audience
were also treated to the Dinka and Nuer dances by students from South Sudan
and the Namibia respectively.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor N. M Bhebe, the
Executive Dean of Arts, Dr Viriri, expressed his gratitude to the entire University
Community for creating space and time to express its diverse culture and
heritage. 'It is every citizen's right to have the pleasure and space to practice
and express one's culture, the subject, Preforming Arts as Cultural Capital:
Promoting Sustainable, Socio-Cultural Development in Africa is by no means
trivial because culture plays an important part in any nation's development,'
said Dr Viriri.
To complete the occasion and in keeping with the festivities of the Carnival,
participants were treated to a variety of African dishes prepared by
international students. The carnival ended on a high note with an African
Beauty contest in which, students took to the catwalk in an effort to land the
prestigious and glamorous title of Miss Carnival 2016.
Among the delegates who attended the event were Head of Mission, South
Sudan, His Excellence, Ambassador Gabriel G. Riak, Deputy Head of Mission,
Botswana Embassy, Mr M Gaseitsiwe, Cultural and Education Attache', South
Sudan Embassy Mr Atem Kuik Jok and National Arts Council Provincial Director,
Ms A Sibanda.
The event also drew sponsorship from companies such as Unique Creations
and Edgars represented by Mrs Dhiwa and Ms Mhlanga respectively.
The beauty of
Africa
&
its heritage!
6
Midlands State University Signs a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Defence Economic Development Department
From left, Mr E Mupfiga, the University Registrar, Professor K. H. Wekwete, the MSU Pro-Vice Chancellor and the
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mr M Rushwaya during the signing ceremony
F
riday the 8th of April 2016 witnessed Midlands State University signing a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the Defence Economic Development Department for the
establishment of a Resources Conservation Educational Centre at a conservancy located
near Kwekwe.
The partnership seeks to utilize the Centre for monitoring, documenting and breeding of endangered
wildlife species. The Conservancy will serve as a vital research centre for scholars and universities whose
primary objective is conservation and propagation of various flora and fauna that add value to the
“
natural environment and promote healthy ecosystems. The business model will also involve
The partnership seeks
to utilize the Centre for
monitoring, documenting
and breeding of endangered
wildlife species.
“
consumptive and non-consumptive activities such as trophy hunting, breeding and resale of high
value species such as cheetahs, ostriches, and crocodiles, and would also venture into fish farming,
photography, game viewing, horse and elephant riding.
True to its vision, the MOU reaffirms MSU's commitment to sustainable socio-economic development
and research. The MOU is therefore aimed at promoting economic cooperation through undertaking
research and analysis in wildlife species, in line with national ZimAsset aspirations. Over and above all
this, the centre will provide knowledge and skills on the management of Zimbabwe's abundant wildlife
resources in general.
Apart from the research objective, the conservancy will also offer a variety of tourism activities and a
conference facility for workshops, seminars and other social functions. The Conservancy will definitely
be a destination of choice for local and international tourists. MSU students in the Faculty of Natural
Resources Management and Agriculture are also set to benefit from the Conservancy.
Present during the signing ceremony were senior officials from the Defence Economic Development
Department among them Mr Martin Rushwaya, and senior members of the University administration
Campus & Community
I
n an endorsement of its growing
reputation, Midlands State
University's Department of Local
Governance Studies in conjunction
with the Swedish International Centre
for Local Democracy (ICLD) and
Gender Links is set to host a national
training programme to capacitate
women councilors in Zimbabwe's ten
provinces.
The ICLD National Training Programme (NTP) - “Local Leaders – Capacitating Women in Zimbabwe”
targets local councilors in all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe and across political parties. The first
programme was initiated in April 2014 and continued for one year. The ICLD has entered into a new
agreement with the Swedish embassy in Harare to continue with two more rounds of the training that
each runs over one and a half years and receives about 25 participants for each round. This
programme is unique for ICLD as it is the first “National” training programme. It is financed through the
Swedish Development and Cooperation Agency and the Swedish Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The objective of the “Local Leaders- Capacitating Women in Zimbabwe” programme is to promote a
Capacitating
Women Leaders
in Zimbabwe
higher degree of involvement of women in local politics in Zimbabwe. To achieve this goal, ICLD works
with local partners to strengthen the capacity and skills of locally elected leaders.
These men and women improve their ability to network, give speeches, recognize and reduce
suppression techniques, conduct strategic planning, leadership skills and improved sensitivity to the
challenges of women, specifically women politicians, with the long-term view of strengthening the
capacity of local governments. Given this objective, the rationale of the Training Programme is to focus
on elected leaders in Zimbabwe, believing that they have the potential to act as advocates and role
models for women who may consider making a career in politics or administration. Although all the
participants in the first programme were women, in the second programme, men are included.
The NTP has two local partners that it works closely with in Zimbabwe, Midlands State University and
Gender Links. Midlands State University is the leading academic institution in teaching local
governance in Zimbabwe and is responsible for providing technical advice and developing the
research component of this programme.
Gender Links works with councils throughout Zimbabwe to create Centre's of Excellence where gender
equality and mainstreaming are championed. Their participation in this programme has been to help
streamline relations with the Ministry of Local Governance, provide on-the-ground advice in regards to
participant selection and logistics, and most importantly, be ICLD's partner in advocating a gender
quota at the local level in Zimbabwe.
Additional content courtesy of the Embassy of Sweden in Harare
7
Campus & Community
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Prof J. N. Moyo touring the
Music and Musicology Department exhibition while Dr P Matiure looks on.
MSU Impresses At ZITF 2016
The Midlands State University exhibition at the 2016 edition of the Zimbabwe
International Trade Fair (ZITF), proved to be extremely popular, with patrons
from all walks of life thronging the stand to see what the country's premier
institution of higher learning is offering.
Exhibiting in Scholastica Hall 3, the University stand had a selection of
innovations from various faculties such as the Faculty of Education, the Faculty
of Medicine, the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Mining Sciences and
the Faculty of Science and Technology.
Amongst the patrons who visited the University stand at the annual trade
showcase was the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and
Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo. Professor Moyo took
keen interest in the innovations on display and provided critical insights into how
the innovations can be further improved.
Other visitors to the stand included the Ethiopian Ambassador to Zimbabwe,
the Deputy Minister of Mines, Honourable Fred Moyo, Vice-Chancellors from
sister universities as well as the University's Pro Vice Chancellor- Business
Development and Administration- Professor K Wekwete who was
accompanied by the acting Bursar, Mr T Chigwaza.
The trade fair, which took place in Bulawayo from the 26th to the 30th of April
ran under the theme, "Innovate, Integrate, Industrialise".
8
Campus & Community
Pro- Vice Chancellor, Prof K H Wekwete officially groundbreaking the chapel site while members of the University
follow proceedings.
Breaking New Ground!
Tuesday, 19 April 2016 will go down
in the annals of Midlands State
University as a historic day for it was
on this day that a groundbreaking
ceremony for the University
Chapel was conducted at the
proposed site, marking the
commencement of construction
of the long awaited University
Chapel.
Addressing the gathering, the
guest of honour, the Right
Reverend Xavier Munyongani,
who is the Bishop of the Gweru
Diocese of the Roman Catholic
Church, applauded Midlands
State University for embarking on
the chapel construction project,
which he said was a noble project
that was long overdue. The Right
Reverend noted that nothing
could be achieved without turning
to God stressing that even the
strongest ships and nations would
sink without God. Bishop
Munyongani drew parallels from
the Titanic, a ship that was touted
as unsinkable but which went on to
sink.
Turning to the scriptures the Right
Reverend referred to the Book of 2
Samuel Chapter 7 verse 5 where
the Lord instructed the Prophet
Nathan to inform King David to,
“build a temple for the Lord to
dwell in”. The Right Reverend
expressed his delight at the fact
that the University had decided to
embark on this project, as the
chapel would enhance the
spiritual development and
fulfillment of the Midlands State
University community.
In a keynote address read on his
behalf by the Pro Vice ChancellorBusiness Development and
Administration- Professor
Wekwete, the Vice Chancellor,
Professor Ngwabi Bhebe
expressed his joy at the
commencement of the chapel
construction project, which has
been on the cards since 1999.
Professor Bhebe lamented the fact
that inclement economic
conditions that have
characterized the country since
the turn of the millennium had
stalled construction of the chapel,
resulting in students having to
make use of unsuitable facilities
such as classrooms and common
rooms for purposes of
worship.Professor Bhebe stressed
the fact that the Student
Representative body had played
a critical role in lobbying for the
construction of the chapel.
Professor Bhebe noted that
construction of the chapel would
9
go a long way in bridging a
yawning infrastructure gap that
was occasioned by the absence
of a University chapel and
chronicled the challenges that the
institution has faced in attempting
to construct a chapel. Just like the
Right Reverend Munyongani, the
Vice Chancellor cited the Book of
2 Samuel Chapter 7 verse 5 as the
inspiration behind the construction
of the chapel with an envisaged
capacity of 2 800 people.
The ground breaking ceremony
was attended by members of the
University administration including
the Pro- Vice Chancellor Research and Academic AffairsProfessor Muzvidziwa, the Registrar,
Mr. Mupfiga, the Librarian, Ms.
Chibanda, the Personal Assistant
to the Vice Chancellor, Mrs.
Mangoma and the Dean of
Students, Mr. Chaka.
Members of the clergy including
the University Chaplain, the
Reverend Dr. Mpofu, member of
the University Council and Bishop
of the Central Diocese of the
Anglican Church, the Right
Reverend I. Mukuwanda and
pastors from various churches in
Gweru attended the ceremony.
Campus & Community
MSU Leos Internationally Recognised
Cde CG Msipa with one of the Leos
Leos during the dinner
T
he Midlands State University Leos Club held a charter dinner on Saturday the 9th of
April 2016 at the Village Lodge, in Gweru, to celebrate the chartering of the Club
by the Lions Club International.
Guests who attended the colourful dinner included the guest of honour, former
Midlands provincial governor, Cde C.G Msipa, dignitaries from the Lions International
Club headquarters (USA), members from the Gweru, Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare
Leos Clubs as well as various University officials.
The Midlands State University Leos Club was chartered by Lions Club International in
recognition of its outstanding community work that has seen the Club contributing
positively to local communities.
The club, which was established at MSU in August 2010 has over the past six years
helped to empower and transform the lives of underprivileged members within
surrounding communities through various initiatives.
As a chartered member of the Lions Club International, the University's Leos Club will not
only be officially recognised globally, but its members will also be provided with
numerous opportunities to gain valuable leadership experience and international
exposure.
In his speech the guest of honour commended Midlands State University for a job well
done and called on the Leos to continue dedicating their time to the needs of others.
Also speaking at the dinner, the Executive Dean of Students, Mr I Chaka, commended
the Leos for their hard work and commitment to charity.
'I am proud of the Leos Club and I urge them to continue giving without ceasing and
making a difference in the community at large. They are dedicated young people and
they should maintain the standard', he said.
The club patron, Mr P Mupfiga also applauded the sterling work carried out by the Leos,
which culminated into their international recognition.
The dinner ended on a high note with several Leos receiving their charter pins courtesy
of Lions Club International.
10
Campus & Community
MSU Student Selected for YALI 2016
L
isbon Tawanda Chigwenjere, a fourth year student at
Midlands State University, in the Department of Politics
and Public Management is currently in South Africa,
where he is attending the Young African Leaders' Initiative
Regional Leadership Center Southern Africa Programme.
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), is a programme
that was launched by American President, Barack Obama as
part of broad efforts to nurture the next generation of African
leaders.
Participants of the programme are drawn from all over
Southern Africa and have to undergo a rigorous selection
process before being admitted into the programme.
Successful candidates are then taken through a 2-week
introductory online programme, which is followed by a 4-week
contact programme at the YALI Leadership Regional Centre.
As part of the programme, members are exposed to multidisciplinary training from seasoned professionals and
academics designed to mould them into well-rounded young
leaders. Areas of focus under the programme include business
and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public
management.
The Young African Leaders' Initiative Regional Leadership
Center Southern Africa Programme, which commenced on
the 11th of April 2016 at the UNISA School of Business
Leadership, in Midrand South Africa, will come to an end on
the 6th of May with a graduation ceremony marking the end of
the contact programme.
On behalf of the entire University community, we would like to
congratulate Lisbon for being selected to be part of this
prestigious programme and for flying the University flag high.
11
Lisbon on one day of the programme
Campus & Community
Creating Marketers Par Excellence
I
n its relentless pursuit to produce marketers par excellence, the Department of
Marketing Management under the Faculty of Commerce continues to nurture
innovation and creativity among students.
Through a deliberate and practical approach to learning, students in the
Department are taught to put theory into practice and to pursue a standard of
excellence in all their endeavours. To this end, an initiative was begun in 2014, aimed
at establishing a centre of excellence for marketing students within the Department.
Following in the footsteps of their predecessors, the 2016 class of level 1 semester 1
Masters' students together with level 1 semester 1 and semester 2 undergraduate
students undertook a number of business and fundraising initiatives through which,
they were able to purchase a variety of equipment for the centre.
The equipment, which included two state-of-the-art iMac computers, an external
hard drive and writer, a Canon camera, complete with a Wi-Fi kit, two lens, a carry
case and two tripod stands, was handed over to the University at a ceremony held
on Friday the 6th of May 2016, at the Graduate School of Business Leadership, Faculty
of Law and Commerce Campus. A heavy duty printer is also expected to be
delivered to the University on Monday the 9th of May 2016 as part of the donation.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of the University, the Acting Deputy Registrar,
Academic Affairs, Mr N Shava, commended the students for their industriousness
and for setting a good example for other departments across all faculties to emulate.
Also speaking during the handover ceremony, the Executive Dean of Commerce, Mr
R Duve applauded the students and challenged other departments to follow suit
and come on board as the Faculty continues in its quest to establish world class
learning facilities.
Those who attended the handover ceremony were treated to a demonstration
where they had the opportunity to see some of the equipment in use, courtesy of the
Masters' students led by Fortune Geza, a member of the Harare class.
Among those who attended the event were the Acting Deputy Registrar, Academic
Affairs, Mr N Shava, the Executive Dean of Commerce, Mr R Duve, Acting Deputy
Dean of Commerce, Mrs M Mugwati and Acting Chairperson of the Department of
Marketing Management, Mr F Chokera as well as various departmental
chairpersons, lectures, and undergraduate and postgraduate students from both
the Gweru and Harare classes.
12
...as we jointly pursue
a standard of
excellence
MSU Crowned ZUSA Champions for
the Third Time Running
Collage shows some of the activities which occurred at the ZUSA games
The Midlands State University teams that took part in the ZUSA cluster 2
games held in Mutare represented the institution with distinction, with Team
MSU retaining the overall Championship trophy after results from cluster 1
and 2 were tallied.
In a notable achievement, ALL teams that represented MSU in the Cluster 2
games won medals across the board to reaffirm the University's status as the
home of sporting excellence.
Team MSU won medals as follows:
? Darts (men and women), Pool (men), Table Tennis (men and
women),
? Rugby (men ) - GOLD.
? Hockey (men and women), Tennis (men and women), Chess (men
and women), Pool (women)- SILVER
? Cricket (T20)- BRONZE
Team MSU retained the overall ZUSA trophy after amassing 29 gold medals
ahead of perennial rivals UZ who finished with 16 gold medals. Great
Zimbabwe University finished in 3rd position.
We congratulate Team MSU for a sterling performance.
14
www.msu.ac.zw