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THE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mqhele Enock-Hershal Dlodlo, yesterday officially opened the Zimbabwe Universities Sports Association (ZUSA) Cluster 1 Games at the NUST Sports Ground. Below is the VC’s full speech.

Ladies and Gentlemen, ZUSA has a very rich history. It was formed 23 years ago with the aim to enhance the educational experience of university students through sports competitions of excellence and to provide the top student-athletes with greater sporting opportunities. The host, NUST, is one of the four founders of ZUSA together with Africa University, Bindura University of Science Education, and UZ. The ZUSA Games started in October 1999 at the UZ with students competing in few sporting disciples of athletics, basketball, football, netball, tennis and volleyball. We applaud ZUSA Executive for growing its membership from 4 to 16 universities. They have expanded the sporting activities to include inter-university staff games and other sporting disciplines such as cricket, hockey, rugby, karate, darts, chess, table tennis, taekwondo, golf and women football. A warm welcome to you all to NUST. I am very happy to see everyone blooming in the spirit of sports. At one point, the global Covid-19 pandemic upended all areas of life and sport was no exception. It is, indeed, a great pleasure and delight to host the Zimbabwe Universities Sports Association (ZUSA) Cluster 1 games albeit under strict Covid-19 protocols. The Cluster 2 games will be staged at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) from the 3^rd to the 8^th of April 2022. 

At NUST, sports are central to our academic, research and innovation activities. The University plays a significant role in the development of sport in Zimbabwe through introducing a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Sports Science and Coaching as well as a Master of Science in the same field. Our experts in sport science continue to work with various sporting teams and are involved in research to establish innovations that can transform sport at all levels in Zimbabwe. 

Ladies and Gentlemen! Sport, whether at a recreational, competitive or administrative level, provides a significant learning experience in promoting awareness of a healthy life-style, fostering leadership and organizational skills, building positive character traits and creating opportunities to excel. Sports teaching us some good qualities like discipline, hard work, patience, respect, team-work, among others. To all athletes, take your participation as a practical learning exercise. 

Let me take this opportunity to remind athletes and officials that sports are perceived as well-structured physical activities guided by rules and regulations. I therefore appeal to all of you to put up your best performance and adhere strictly to the rules and regulations governing all the ZUSA Games so that we can have successful competitions. Winners of competitions should display humility while other competitors should accept their fate with the spirit of sportsmanship. Sportsmen and women should interact freely since sports are meant for social interaction. You are enjoined to be friendly and ready to learn from one another. 

Sport is a very powerful tool for achieving gender equality. The ZUSA Games come at a time when the world is still celebrating the International Women’s Day. My message to all the female athletes is “BELIEVE IN YOURSELF”. The only person who can stop you from reaching your goal is you. Sport is a springboard for success. Utilise all the opportunities availed to you. 

I wish you all the best of luck during the ZUSA Games. Remember to observe all the Covid-19 protocols to make the games a success. With these few remarks, it is my honour to declare the 2022 ZUSA Cluster 1 Games Officially Opened.

 I THANK YOU!

The University wishes to advise students that the Second Semester for the 2021/2022 Academic Year will commence on Monday the 14^th of March 2022. Students are advised to take note of the following schedule: 

• Online Learning begins on Monday the 14^th of March 2022 for all Faculties (excluding Faculty of Medicine).
• Faculty of Science and Technology Education face to face Learning begins on Monday the 11^th of April to Saturday 23^rd of April 2022.
• Face-to-face Learning and Practical Classes begin on Monday the 25^th of April 2022 to Friday the 3^rd of June 2022 for all Faculties (excluding Faculties of Medicine and Science and Technology Education).
• Examinations for all Faculties begin on Monday the 6^th of June 2022 to Tuesday the 28^th of June 2022 (excluding Faculty of Medicine). 

Please note that online Registration will open on the 14^th of March 2022 (upon payment of full fees) and will close on Friday the 29^th of April 2022. 

A detailed calendar including other Academic activities not mentioned above will be circulated shortly on the NUST website. 

Students are encouraged to continue observing Covid-19 protocols including vaccinating against the virus.

L.J. Hadebe (Mr)

Deputy Registrar Academic

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SHE ate Maths, drank Maths, dreamt Maths and slept Maths. She had a soft heart for the education of the underprivileged and orphaned children especially the girl-child. She was a mentor who was passionate about seeing women and girls succeed in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Professor Senelani Dorothy Hove-Musekwa lived mathematics.

Sadly, five days after the world celebrated the 7^th International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Prof Hove-Musekwa, took her last breath.

She was 63.

A researcher par excellence in Mathematical Modelling both in Zimbabwe and abroad, modelling diseases like TB and HIV, Prof Hove-Musekwa, was a Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Applied Science.

“The NUST Community is shocked and left bereft. She always put others first and was altruistically committed to serving NUST. She put NUST higher on the global scholarly maps. Her absence will be felt far and wide,” said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mqhele Dlodlo when he heard the sad news.

He added that Prof Hove-Musekwa will be remembered for pioneering the NUST Schools Enrichment Programme (NUSTSEP) in 2010 to assist underprivileged and orphaned pupils in studying mathematics. She later transformed it into NUST Schools Enrichment Centre (NUSTSEC) to cater for those pupils who could afford to pay for the services.

“Through NUSTSEP and NUSTSEC, Prof Hove-Musekwa worked hard to support underprivileged and orphaned secondary school pupils to pass mathematics. She contributed immensely to the improved pass rate in mathematics and increased enrolment of children from the Matabeleland region in the STEM programmes at NUST,” said Prof Dlodlo.

The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science, Prof Philimon Nyamugure, said Prof Hove-Musekwa will be remembered for breaking the glass ceilings in academia.

“She was the first female Professor of Mathematics in Zimbabwe. A hard working researcher and best teacher of mathematics,” said Prof Nyamugure.

Her peer, a Professor in Physics, Prof Dumisani Hlatywayo had no words to describe the loss of Prof Hove-Musekwa.

“What a sad moment, what a sorrowful time before us. A dark cloud hangs yet again over NUST,” mourned Prof Hlatywayo. 

He described Prof Hove-Musekwa as a true NUST cadre who cared for the welfare of students.

“When faced with financially struggling students, Sisi Dorah would rally her colleagues to donate from their salaries to assist the students to pay their fees. 

“Sisi Dorah, as I was accustomed to calling her, was a lecturer, teacher and researcher par excellence. She was both dedicated and committed to whatever she did. Administratively, she stood the test as Acting Dean of Applied Science over a period of two and a half years at NUST – a responsibility she held and executed with dedication and passion,” said Prof Hlatywayo.

He added that Prof Hove-Musekwa’s dream was to see the Department of Applied Mathematics growing into a School of Mathematics.

Prof Hlatywayo said Prof Hove-Musekwa was a pleasure to work with as she never missed a duty, meeting or responsibility without a valid reason.

“Even during the days that she was struggling with her health, she would struggle to avail herself to her duties. NUST has lost a dedicated Cadre,” he said.

The Acting Director for Research and Internationalisation Office, Dr Thembekile Ncube, described Prof Hove-Musekwa as a mentor who was passionate about seeing girls and women succeed in STEM.

“She was a mentor who was passionate about seeing girls and women succeed in STEM. Her departure is a big loss to women in science at NUST and beyond,” said Dr Ncube who in 2013, formed NUST Academic Women Researchers where Prof Hove-Musekwa was a very active member.

“We all looked up to her for inspiration, motivation, direction and guidance in academic and social issues as women academia,” said Dr Ncube.

The Chaplain, Pastor Tomson Dube, who three weeks ago visited Prof Hove-Musekwa on behalf of the NUST Community, said the University had hope that she will recover and return to work.

“We had hope that Prof Hove-Musekwa will recover. Truly, we are reminded by King David in the book of Psalms when he says, ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (Psalm 90:12). May the Lord help us to understand this sad occurrence! May he give to the family bigger hearts to contain this and wisdom to accept the unchangeable. We the NUST Community is shocked and left bereft,” said Pastor Dube.

Her departure has been felt far and wide.

Ba Isago University in Botswana, an affiliate of NUST, said the world has lost an anchor and towering academic.

“Noting from her academic profile, not only her family, but also NUST, her country and the region, have lost an anchor and towering academic giant who contributed so immensely to the realms of Science and Mathematics,” said the Managing Director of Ba Isago University, Odirile Gabasiene in a condolence letter to NUST Vice-Chancellor.

Prof Hove-Musekwa started her dance with mathematics as a teacher at Townsend High School in Bulawayo from 1982 to 1988.

In 1989 she joined Hillside Teacher’s College as a Mathematics lecturer. After lecturing for six years, Prof Hove-Musekwa, was recruited by the University of Zimbabwe as a Staff Development Fellow and then served as a mathematics lecturer from 2001 to 2002 at UZ.

She joined NUST on the 2^nd of January in 2003 as a lecturer and was later promoted to Senior Lecturer.

In January 2012 she was promoted to Associate Professor and attained her full Professorship in April 2018.

She held various positions of responsibility within the University including Acting Director Institutional Research and Quality Assurance from April to June 2020; Acting Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science from March 2017 to May 2018; and Chairperson of Applied Mathematics Department from July 2007 to October 2008.

She was a member of various committees and boards until the time of her death including the Higher Degrees Committee (from Aug 2005); Journal Editorial Board (from 2011); and MSc Mathematical Modelling Coordinator (from Jan 2005).

She also sat in the Publications Committee (Jan 2005 to 2009); Senate (Jul 2007 to Oct 2008; 2012 to time of her death).

Prof Hove-Musekwa was the secretary of African Women Mathematics Association (AWMA) since 2013 and an active member and Board Chairperson of the ZIMSTAT Board.

She was Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association Treasurer from 2002 to 2006.

Prof Hove-Musekwa was a well published professor with more than 40 Journal Publications, several Book Chapters and presented papers at more than 48 International Conferences and Workshops.

During her career, she received several honours and awards including the African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative Research Fellowship in 2006; Visiting research fellowship by African Institute for Mathematical Sciences from 2009 to 2010 at the Stellenbosch University.

In 2013, the Research Council of Zimbabwe awarded her a prize for Outstanding Research in Promoting and Maintaining Good Health through her research project on “Hospitalisation and Community home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS”; and in 2013 she was recognised by the Ministry of Information Communication Technology for outstanding research by a female researcher.

Prof Hove-Musekwa was a holder of a doctorate in Mathematical Epidemiology (UZ, 2005), an MSc in Mathematical Modelling (UZ, 1997), Bachelor of Arts Special Honours in Mathematics (UZ, 1993), Graduate Certificate in Education (UZ, 1982) and Bachelor of Arts General majoring in Mathematics (UZ, 1981).

CERTIFICATES READY FOR COLLECTION

The University wishes to advise all 2021 Graduates that Certificates are now ready for collection at Admissions and Student Records Offices. For those graduates that reside outside Bulawayo, you may pay any courier of your choice to collect on your behalf. Those that will be sending a courier must notify the Admissions Office prior, by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that the certificate is pre-packaged before the courier comes to pick it up. 

Please note that Certificates will only be issued upon clearance of all fees including the Graduation fees. 

L J Hadebe (Mr)

Deputy Registrar Academic

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has bagged a global chartered accounting award for top performances among its students in case study examinations.

The University won the African Regional Champion, Chartered Institute of Management Accounts (CIMA) following the CIMA prize-Winner Excellency Awards, which were held virtually last Friday.

NUST came first among partners with top performing CIMA students in case study exams, reads the citation of the award.

The award was sponsored by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the global accounting organisation representing CIMA and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).

The aim of the awards is to recognise institutions and individuals across the world who go above and beyond to shape the next generation of chartered global management accountants and lead the accounting profession into the future.

Winners from this year’s awards were drawn from more than 400 nominations from educational institutions and individuals who were submitted for consideration in four categories.

These include CIMA Teaching Excellence Award, CIMA Research Excellency Award, CIMA Campus Culture Excellency Award and CIMA Employability Excellency Award.

In addition, a central award committee selected winners for the CIMA Award Prize-Winner Excellence Award, CIMA Global Excellence Award, and CGMA Campus of the Year Award based on CIMA exam performance in 2020 and 2021.

NUST Communications and Marketing Director, Mr Thabani Mpofu, said the award was an endorsement of NUST capabilities in delivering quality education in line with national vision.

“The Regional Champion (Africa) CIMA-Prize Winner Award for Top Student in Strategic Case Study exam August 2020 is a powerful endorsement of the world-class programmes on offer at NUST and a clear demonstration of the high quality graduates churned out by our University” said Mr Mpofu.

“Through the Heritage-based Education 5.0, our students are trained to make an impact in society with the creative and innovative skills imparted during their education experience that is consistently rated among the best locally and beyond.

“We are committed to producing innovative and entrepreneurial graduates whose qualifications are locally and internationally recognised, underpinned by values of engaged citizenship.”

Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, Chief Executive – Management Accounting at The Chartered Institute of Management Accounting, said the awards are meant to celebrate those who are promoting the chartered accounting profession.

“It is an honour to recognise and celebrate those who have demonstrated remarkable commitment to their students and the accounting profession in the past year,” said Mr Andrew Harding.

“All our winners and nominees are doing incredible work to help future generations realise their potential and give their career a head start.

“We are proud to call you our partners and truly appreciate your support.” – Chronicle online.