Midlands State University has been forced to postpone its graduation ceremony scheduled for September 5 as the Emmerson Dambudzo Law School Kwekwe campus, which is set to host the event, is still to be completed.
MSU traditionally hosts its graduation ceremonies at the Senga campus in Gweru, but the government requested this year's event be moved to Kwekwe to enable President Emmerson Mnangagwa to commission the law school named after him.
Information gathered by Southern Eye revealed that there were key construction developments that need to be completed.
No immediate comment could be obtained from the institution's director of communications, Mirirai Mawere, for the reason for the postponement.
The MSU, however, later released a statement saying the graduation and commissioning of the ED Law School will now be held on September 11.
"MSU wishes to inform its valued stakeholders that the graduation ceremony originally scheduled for the 5th of September 2025 has been postponed to the 11th of September 2025 due to circumstances beyond the university's control," the statement read.
"Please note that the graduation venue remains Kwekwe campus as previously advised.
“The university regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause to graduands, families and other stakeholders.”
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Midlands Provincial Affairs minister, Owen Ncube, has been making frantic visits to the Kwekwe campus to pile pressure on contractors ahead of the graduation ceremony.
Last Friday, he was accompanied by MSU vice chancellor, Victor Muzvidziwa, among other university and government officials to assess progress at the site.
"We are gathered here for our second state occasions preparatory meeting for the dual programme of the MSU graduation ceremony and commissioning of the ED Mnangagwa Law School by His Excellency, the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade Dr ED Mnangagwa scheduled for September 11, 2025," Ncube said after the visit.
"This meeting aims to facilitate swift and seamless completion of the remaining onsite and off-site scope of works by all agencies and partners as noted during our tour of the campus on July 14, 2025."
Kwekwe City Council donated 220 hectares of land to the university to build the campus which will not only house the law faculty, but also the faculties of agriculture and architecture with a projected enrolment of 1000 students once complete.
It has, however, since emerged that conveyance of municipal water to the site is yet to be completed.
Other key developments include sprucing up buildings and the surrounding environment at the site, upgrading electricity supply, rehabilitation of the old Gokwe road that leads to the site and completion of road works from the campus boundary to GTS service station near Amaveni traffic circle.
In January this year, MSU pro vice chancellor infrastructure and campus development, Gift Manyatera, said construction at the law school was at 65% complete and expected to open its doors to students by August.
The higher learning institution this month has so far failed to enrol its first cohort of students.
Several workers on the Kwekwe campus site who spoke to Southern Eye on condition of anonymity said they were working around the clock as preparations for Mnangagwa's visit gathered momentum.
There are over 300 workers on-site.
