Gweru, Zimbabwe – 25 February 2025, Midlands State University (MSU) took a significant step towards fostering entrepreneurial talent as its Faculty of Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Management partnered with the Zimbabwe Agricultural Development Trust (ZADT) to launch the Creating Adaptive Unique System for Financing Entrepreneurial Women and Youth (CAUSEWAY) project.
The initiative, unveiled at MSU’s Gweru Main Campus, is set to provide financial backing and practical support to students pursuing innovative agribusiness ventures.
The collaboration was marked by a cheque handover ceremony, where beneficiaries signed contracts for their projects and opened student bank accounts with Empowerbank to manage their funding.
Professor C. Parwada, Executive Dean of the Faculty, delivered a keynote address, expressing his excitement over the partnership and its alignment with Zimbabwe’s vision of becoming a middle-income economy by 2030.
“We are quite thrilled to be in partnership with the ZADT because they inject energy within our faculty, specifically for our students, by supporting them financially,” Professor Parwada said.
He emphasised the timeliness of the initiative, adding, “The ZADT is coming in at a very important moment where we, as a faculty, align with the national mantra of encouraging students to not be employees but employers.”
The CAUSEWAY project targets women in agriculture and young entrepreneurs, offering expanded access to finance and business support services.
Mrs. F. Mushonga, ZADT Project Officer, outlined the programme’s goals, underscoring its commitment to empowering the next generation of agricultural innovators.
Among the student-led projects receiving funding are mesh wire production, aquaponics systems, and yoghurt manufacturing – a testament to the creativity and ambition nurtured at MSU.
The initiative dovetails with Education 5.0, Zimbabwe’s educational framework that prioritises innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical skills development.
Students wasted no time putting the support into action, with many already laying the groundwork for their ventures following the event.
The ceremony not only highlighted MSU’s dedication to academic excellence but also its role as a catalyst for economic transformation.
The event captures the essence of empowerment, blending financial support with hands-on experience to produce not just graduates, but trailblazers.
As these MSU students embark on their entrepreneurial journeys, their efforts signal a broader shift – one where education, innovation, and ambition converge to drive Zimbabwe towards a prosperous horizon.