MSU Postpones Graduation Ceremony Amid ED Law School Campus Completion Delays

Midlands State University (MSU) has postponed its graduation ceremony, originally set for September 5, as construction at the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School in Kwekwe, the planned venue, is still incomplete.

Traditionally, MSU holds its graduation ceremonies at the Senga campus in Gweru. However, government directives shifted this year’s event to Kwekwe to coincide with the commissioning of the new law school, named after President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

According to Southern Eye, several key construction works at the site are yet to be finalised.

In a statement, MSU confirmed that both the graduation ceremony and the commissioning of the ED Law School have been rescheduled to September 11. The statement reads:

“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.

“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.”

Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube has been making frequent visits to the Kwekwe campus to push contractors to speed up work ahead of the graduation ceremony.

Last Friday, he toured the site with MSU Vice-Chancellor Victor Muzvidziwa and other university and government officials to assess progress.

Following the visit, Ncube said that the campus must be ready by 11 September 2025 for the ceremonies. He said:

“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.

“This meeting aims to facilitate the 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 MSU for the construction of the campus, which will accommodate the faculties of Law, Agriculture, and Architecture. Once fully developed, the campus is expected to enrol at least 1,000 students.

However, critical infrastructure works are still outstanding. The conveyance of municipal water to the site has not yet been completed, while other major tasks include refurbishing buildings, improving the surrounding environment, upgrading the electricity supply, rehabilitating the old Gokwe Road leading to the campus, and completing roadworks from the campus boundary to the GTS service station near the Amaveni traffic circle.

In January, MSU Pro-Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Campus Development, Gift Manyatera, reported that construction of the Law School was 65% complete and that the facility was expected to open its doors to students by August.

Several workers at the Kwekwe campus told Southern Eye, on condition of anonymity, that they were working round the clock to meet deadlines as preparations for Mnangagwa’s commissioning visit intensified. More than 300 workers are currently on site.

More: Southern Eye