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(NEWZIMBABWE) Chiyangwa donates US$1,6m to University of Zimbabwe

Chiyangwa donates US$1,6m to University of Zimbabwe
29/04/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

PROPERTY tycoon Phillip Chiyangwa donated US$1,6 million at a fundraising dinner for the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) on Saturday night.

Chiyangwa – who had two children graduate from the university – said the money will be used for the construction of a chapel which is one of nearly a dozen capital projects identified for funding by the university authorities.

“There is currently no church at the UZ. Where there is no God, there is a problem,” Chiyangwa told New Zimbabwe.com after making his pledge.
“Over the years, there has been too many riots and injuries... there must be some peace.”

The businessman, famed for his expensive tastes and philanthropy, said he was moved to chip in because the fundraising campaign championed by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara was a “genuine campaign to make a difference in the community”.
“I made the commitment because I have got the money. God gives me favour every day,” he added.

The dinner at the university’s Great Hall and attended by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, had set a target to raise US$10 million. Nearly 600 guests each paid US$200 to attend.

Several companies made cash donations, while others pledged to fund specific projects identified by the fundraising committee which is seeking to raise a minimum of US$70 million.
The Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe donated US$200,000, TN bank US$150,000, ZNBC Group US$100,000 and FBC US$10,000.

Mbada Diamonds said it would adopt one university department.

Mutambara, who is patron of the University of Zimbabwe Training Programme, said “very few of Africa’s newly-rich and those in influential positions give back to wider causes beyond their families and immediate communities”, including the UZ’s 65,000 graduates since 1957.

“We are aggressively pursuing this principle of Africans giving back to their own institutions, starting with the University of Zimbabwe,” Mutambara said.

A committee of trustees to lead the fundraising effort includes some of the UZ’s most notable alumni including Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Africa Sun CEO Shingi Mutasa, TN CEO Tawanda Nyambirai, Cyril Ruwende (Diaspora USA), Professor Rueben Simoyi (Diaspora USA), Alex Magaisa (Diaspora UK) and Brian Kagoro (Diaspora SA).

The committee is pursuing an ambitious programme to get all the UZ’s graduates since 1957 to donate US$100 each and breathe life to the institution which is struggling under spending cuts in education by the cash-strapped government.

Labels: PHILLIP CHIYANGWA

posted by MrK @ 4:54 PM