All set for the Fifth CUT International Conference and birthday celebrations

Preparations for the Fifth Chinhoyi University of Technology International Conference which
started at the weekend have reached an advanced stage with most things in place.
The preparations are not being done by CUT alone but there are a number of corporates
which have partnered with the institution to see that the event is a success.
Besides the Conference, the University will be celebrating 20 years of existence though it is a
belated celebration which was supposed to have been done last year.
Speaking at a press conference on the preparations recently, the Acting Local Organising
Committee Chairperson Dr Gabriel Soropa said they have a budget of $100 000 for the
event and they are expecting over 400 delegates, from the region and internationally who
will be key note speakers and are ready for the event.
CUT Vice Chancellor, Professor David Simbi said he was hoping that the celebrations will be
graced by the founding Fathers of the University who include Dr Caiphas Nziramasanga and
Professor Charles Nherera and hopefully Dr Ibbo Mandaza.
“If we can get hold of the founding fathers, the Nziramasanga’s of this world who were the
drivers in founding the University, I will be one of the happiest people. Dr Ibbo Mandaza the
first Chairman of the University Council, if we can get hold of him it would be nice to see
him. The founding Vice Chancellor Professor Nherera if we can also, if he is willing enough
to come, these are the icons on whom we rest as we celebrate this important milestone,” said
Professor Simbi.
He said, they will have a lot of activities to celebrate their 20 th anniversary along with holding
the university’s fifth international conference.
“For the community we have prepared an international conference where we will be inviting
key note speakers not from around Zimbabwe but across the borders or even across the
oceans who will come and participate with us at this important conference.
“Each school has got people that will be presenting papers on what it is they have been doing
in the last 20 years which have made Chinhoyi University what it is today. By putting this
Conference we are drawing from the schools where the future of the country is being built.
Universities are there to outlive us,” said Vice Chancellor Prof Simbi.
The conference’s theme Innovation, Industrialisation growth and Sustainable Development
resonates with the Government’s new thrust on the heritage based Education 5.0 premised on
teaching, research, community engagement, innovation and industrialisation.
Conference fees have been pegged at US$200 for international delegates, local delegates
US$100, Post graduate students with proof of registration US$50, Undergraduate students
with proof of registration also US$50 and Corporates per individual US$100.

The University was established in 1992 taking over from the Chinhoyi Teachers’College and
then grew up to becoming the biggest and among the best Universities in the country and the
region.