Midlands State University (MSU) has etched a defining moment in its institutional history after hosting a two-day high-level collaborative visit with the University of Namibia (UNAM) at the Gweru Main Campus from 13 to 14 April 2026.
The landmark engagement brought together academia and government through a distinguished Namibian delegation comprising the UNAM Vice Chancellor, Professor Kenneth Matengu, the Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to Zimbabwe, His Excellency David Asheelo Thomas, the Chief Executive Officer – Namibia Agronomic Board and other senior delegates, signalling a unified commitment to advancing continental development through higher education.
Setting the tone during a briefing in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom, MSU Vice Chancellor Professor Victor Ngonidzashe Muzvidziwa welcomed the delegation, grounding the dialogue in the enduring bilateral relations between the governments of Zimbabwe and Namibia forged during the countries’ liberation struggles emphasising that the collaboration seeks to extend this historic solidarity into a modern educational ecosystem designed to produce graduates who create opportunities rather than seek them.
Echoing these sentiments, UNAM Vice Chancellor Professor Kenneth Matengu reaffirmed his institution’s commitment to cultivating partnerships that produce poverty eradicators.
Throughout the engagements, both institutions underscored their intention to leverage complementary strengths in pursuit of national and regional development.
The event also featured a courtesy call to the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution – Midlands Province, Honourable Owen Ncube, who reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties between the two nations and expressed optimism for deeper collaboration anchored in shared developmental aspirations.
The engagement with provincial leadership reinforced diplomatic goodwill while positioning the visit within a broader development framework, where academia, government and industry converge to translate policy into tangible socio-economic outcomes for communities.
In his remarks, MSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Muzvidziwa reiterated that the shared historical experiences of Zimbabwe and Namibia impose a collective responsibility to design initiatives that tangibly improve the lives of their citizens.
“Our nations share a common history of anti-colonial struggles and therefore a common context that demands our commitment to ensuring initiatives that develop our people and change their lives,” he said.
He outlined key areas of cooperation including staff and student exchange programmes, enterprise development, research and innovation, capacity building, staff development, community engagement, social impact, as well as institutional strengthening and advocacy.
Delivering his remarks, UNAM Vice Chancellor, Professor Matengu highlighted the centrality of knowledge in driving national prosperity, noting that access to economically viable knowledge and the capacity to utilise it remain the defining factors between wealth and poverty.
“By working together, we will know what we do not know, understand what we share, and build the capabilities to convert our resources into wealth,” he said.
The highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), symbolising a strategic partnership poised to transform both institutions and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The MSU Registrar, Mr. Tinashe Zishiri, and UNAM’s Director for Innovation Development Accelerator, Dr. John Sifani, sat juxtaposed to the two Vice Chancellors, bearing witness to the formalisation of a historic partnership, as the room resonated with ululations marking the dawn of a new chapter poised to empower both institutions and their respective nations.
In his remarks, MSU Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Administration, Professor Mcebisi Maphosa, expressed optimism that the MoU would serve as a bridge for advancing academic excellence, deepening institutional collaboration, and strengthening shared scholarly pursuits.
Setting the tone for the second day of the visit, which featured tours of MSIU’s strategic business units and research divisions including the Research and Innovation Division, the MSU National Language Institute, the MSU National Pathology Research and Diagnostic Centre, the MSU Industrial Park and the University’s retail outlet, OD.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Industrialisation, Professor Grace Mugumbate welcomed the Namibian delegation to the touring session, framing the exercise as a learning platform for both parties.
These engagements provided a platform for knowledge exchange and benchmarking, with MSU showcasing its research-driven innovation model, which particularly drew the interest of the Namibian delegation in the area of commercialisation of patented innovations.
Following the tour, the visit concluded with a forward-looking discussion in which both institutions committed to concrete implementation pathways across the identified areas of collaboration.
The visit marked a significant step in strengthening ties between Midlands State University and University of Namibia, reflecting a shared commitment to leveraging higher education for innovation and socio-economic development.