wfn.org | Africa University infrastructure affected by Zimbabwe's economic strife

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Nov. 27, 2002 News media contact: Linda Green7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn. 
   10-71B{554}

By Duane Ewers*

MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS)-Africa University must develop strategies to sustain
its infrastructure to operate in Zimbabwe's environment of economic turmoil,
according to its governing board.

The university's operating environment was the focus of the Nov. 13-14
meeting of the university's board of directors, which convened amid the
school's 10th anniversary celebration. 

Africa University Vice Chancellor Rukudzo Murapa presented to the board
examples of the negative macroeconomic environment affecting the operating
environment for Africa University. They include: 
7	An hyper-inflation rate of more than 140 percent and spiraling food
prices;
7	Increasing demands for increased wages to keep up with the inflation
rate;
7	An employment rate of 60 percent; and 
7	Increasing shortages of basic commodities like sugar, meal, bread,
soap, beef and chicken.

In this context, Murapa said,  "Long-term planning is very difficult. Cash
flow planning is the most critical issue in the day-to-day management of
university activities."

While student enrollment has reached an all-time high of 1,107 students,
tuition from those increased numbers has had little effect on overall income
due to the controls on exchange rates, board members learned. 

The large enrollment has also strained the university's available housing,
classrooms, food services and water supply.  A current institutional
self-study led by board member Vivian Bull, president of Linfield College,
McMinnville, Ore, is designed to help Africa University's directors and
administration develop strategies for student enrollment, governance,
academic programs, finance and development.

Board members created two subcommittees-- development and audit-to address
recurring water pressure and supply problems. 

Of significant concern during the meeting were the fund raising activities by
Kenya Methodist University in the United Methodist annual conferences in the
United States. The concern centered on the confusion that has been generated
and will continue to occur as congregations and individuals are asked to give
to Kenya University as well as to Africa University.  Board members will
develop more effective ways to tell the Africa University story and explain
the institution's relationship to the United Methodist Church.	Africa
University is the only United Methodist-related degree-granting university on
the continent.

In spite of the negatives impacting the operating environment, board members
found instances to celebrate the university's 10-years of existence.

"We are serving the underserved and providing access to higher education for
those who are often left out," said the Rev. Jerome King Del Pino, top
executive at the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry,
Nashville.

After a visit to the campus during the board meeting, Bishop Felton E. May,
Washington expressed delight in the university. "As I watched the students
coming from all directions, going to the classrooms, carrying their books,
and chatting with their friends from the different countries of Africa, I
said, 'I am witnessing a miracle.'"  

Board members also celebrated the 899 graduates who are providing important
leadership in many countries of Africa and helping to address the systemic
problems that most of the countries on the continent face.

Other notes of celebration included:
7	Two new dorms constructed by funds provided by the South Indiana
Annual Conference;
7	Two new staff houses completed bringing new staff housing to a total
of 10 in 10 years;
7	A $1.8 million USAID-approved grant for academic facilities for the
Institute of Peace, Leadership, and Governance and $1 million to be made
available for the Health Science building, contingent upon Africa University
raising a matching $1 million; and 
7	The Africa University Endowment Fund reaching a September market
value of $17,203,000 with a recovery of 3% in October.

 "One of the most important actions to come from board meetings are the
determinations to secure additional funds for scholarships for international
students to help make the Africa University student body more Pan-African,"
said Bishop Emilio J. M. de Carvalho, university chancellor and chairman of
the board of directors.

"Africa University must focus on the development and maturing of the
infrastructure of AU so that we can sustain serving the number of students
enrolled and continue to provide access to higher education for those who are
often left out," del Pino said.
# # #
*Ewers is the director of the office of interpretation at the United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

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United Methodist News Service
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