Construction works, which had stalled for almost two decades, are set to resume at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), the second largest public research university in Zimbabwe, located in Bulawayo, after the government allocated US$ 125M for the project.
For over 18 years, construction at the Nust which is supposed to have 27 buildings but only seven have been completed, has been on a stand still with dangling cranes and unfinished structures becoming synonymous with the institution.
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It (the institution) was given US$ 1bn in the national budget for 2022 to finish its massive library and retail complex. Although Nust’s budgeted allocations for 2022 have yet to be allocated, the government has released cash to begin construction.
Nust’s estates and engineering departments will lead the building work as the major contractor.
Push for completion of the National University of Science and Technology (Nust)
The alocation of the funds by the government of the Southern Africa country comes following a plea by several stakeholders, including industry players for the building works at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) to resume and be completed as soon as possible.
In 2016, the university’s former vice chancellor and late national hero Professor Phineas Makhurane who passed away in 2018 also urged Government to avail funds to Nust saying the university had not developed since he left in 2004.
Nust is required to create graduates that are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but the school has been attracting more commercially minded students, which is a violation of its primary purpose. This is reportedly due in part to a lack of adequate infrastructure.
