In a first and landmark development, the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) held a special occasion to celebrate the achievements by some members of the academic staff over the period September 2012 to 15 March 2013.

The event which was held in the University Council Room on Friday, 15 March 2013 sought to recognize the efforts of members of academic staff who had:

a)     been promoted to the Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor/Full Professor grades;
b)     had acquired PhD qualifications; and
c)     a recipient of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Research in Soya Bean Research.

A total of fourteen (14) members of the academic staff received PhD qualifications from the UZ and other universities beyond the region.

In his remarks Professor Levi Nyagura said, “A PhD qualification by academic staff is an important mark that shows we are now in a position to increase the critical mass of researchers with capacity to publish in refereed journals.”

The Vice Chancellor bemoaned the hostile economic environment which the university was operating in, which made it difficult to support research activities by providing adequate funding.

“It becomes more amazing when you get people managing to do research and write papers which are recognized around the world.  This is a big lesson to us, that even with minimal resources you can achieve wonders and so we want to congratulate members of the academic staff who had achieved PhD qualifications, were promoted to the grades of Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor/Full Professor,” said Professor Nyagura.

He urged members of the academic staff who are now PhD holders to work hard to achieve success as demonstrated by fellow colleagues.

“Remember we have no quotas, everyone can become a Full Professor, and that is the target we have set, to have every academic member of staff become a Full Professor by year 2020,” said the Vice Chancellor.

Professor Nyagura also congratulated Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki who received a Presidential Award in recognition of Distinguished Research in Science and Technology in service of Zimbabwe in the field of Agricultural Research (soya bean research and development).  He said Professor Mpepereki had set a good example for the young academics to emulate.

“If we can get 200 academics in his category, then we might be viewed as more than an ordinary centre of excellence within the region and across Africa.  We want to say congratulations to those who acquired PhDs and those who got promoted various grades.  We feel we have members who are concerned about the welfare and reputation of the institution.

We have a good brand that is well known internationally but let us not be satisfied about what is already known, lets us even become better so that we surprise people all over the world that we are not an ordinary institution,” said the Vice Chancellor.

Professor Mpepereki encouraged academic members to collaborate with each other and work with partners in their areas of research output.