10/06/2026
Minister Shava Sets Out Reform Agenda on Visit to ZIMCHE
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Ambassador Dr Frederick Shava, visited the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) on Monday, 8 June 2026, on a familiarisation tour aimed at giving the Minister a first-hand appreciation of the Council's work environment and operational culture.
The ZIMCHE Chief Executive Officer, Professor K. P. Dzvimbo, welcomed the Minister and commended the Ministry for its continued support and leadership. The CEO outlined the Council's operational successes and challenges, and reiterated the ZIMCHE's commitment to protecting the quality and credibility of Zimbabwe's higher education system.
The Council Chairperson, Professor M. Rukuni, briefed the Minister on the ZIMCHE's mandate and strategic direction, stressing the importance of robust administrative data systems and sound data analysis across the higher education ecosystem as the foundation for informed decision-making at both institutional and policy levels. He also expressed appreciation to the Government, through the line ministry, for its role in strengthening the capacity of higher education institutions over the years, which he said had made it easier for the ZIMCHE to exercise its regulatory oversight.
In his address, Minister Shava commended the ZIMCHE for professionally undertaking its mandate and for successfully guiding higher education institutions in fostering a Heritage-Based Education 5.0 philosophy. He observed that universities are increasingly proving themselves to be innovation hubs driving the country's transformation into a technology-driven economy, a paradigm shift that moves education beyond certificates towards practical outcomes, entrepreneurship and industrialisation.
The Minister used the occasion to set out several recommendations for the ZIMCHE. On student protection, he called on ZIMCHE to institute a pre-departure clearance system for all Zimbabwean students enrolling at foreign universities, to prevent families from committing resources to programmes that may not be recognised upon completion. He further directed the Council to accelerate the digitisation of foreign qualification assessment and verification to improve turnaround times, and to take the lead in developing an Artificial Intelligence policy for the higher education sector, aligned with Zimbabwe's National AI Strategy 2026 to 2030.
On infrastructure, Minister Shava called on the ZIMCHE to expedite the construction of its permanent headquarters at 21 J. M. Nkomo Road in Hatfield and pledged government support to get the first phase of the project underway. He also called for a comprehensive review of the implementation of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 across institutions, including an evaluation of the Minimum Bodies of Knowledge framework, to ensure that university programmes remain both locally impactful and globally competitive.
The Minister took note of the operational constraints affecting the ZIMCHE's day-to-day functions and provided several recommendations to strengthen the Council's institutional capacity and enable it to execute its regulatory mandate effectively.
The visit concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the ZIMCHE Council Vice-Chairperson, Professor (dr.) P. Mapfumo, who expressed appreciation for the Minister's policy guidance and for the sustained support the Council continues to receive from the Ministry.
The Minister's delegation comprised the Chief Director for Human Capital Planning and Skills Development, Professor N. Takaidza, standing in for the Permanent Secretary, Professor F. Tagwira, and the Director for Higher Education Programmes, Dr D. Murekachiro.
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