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CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY

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Mark Mukunga
Mark Mukunga

(1) Midlands State University plans to construct a new double-story library at its campus in Gweru to provide adequate facilities for students. (2) China Chrome Mining Company won the contract to build the state-of-the-art library for $21.8 million and is expected to complete construction in 2017. (3) The new library will enhance Midlands State University's ability to deliver teaching, learning, and research by providing a modern information center for the university community.

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MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY TO CONSTRUCT STATE-OF-THE- ART LIBRARY 'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need', in this famous quotation, Marcus Tullius Cicero, an acclaimed ancient Roman lawyer and scholar captures the value of information and knowledge in society. As part of efforts to provide requisite physical structures for its principal stakeholder, the students, Midlands State University is set to construct a state-of-the-art double storey library with a carrying capacity of 12 800 books at the Graduate School of Business Leadership, Faculty of Law and Commerce Campus in Gweru. Plans to construct a library have been on the table for quite some time but the project has been stalled due to lack of sufficient funding and the obtaining adverse economic conditions. However, determined to ensure the availability of adequate teaching, learning and research facilities, Midlands State University continued to explore various resource mobilisation options. The options included securing a partner that could build the library on a turnkey basis, that is, one with the capacity and willingness to finance the construction of the library to completion using their own resources. The University then issued a tender in line with the provisions of the State Procurement Board. A total of eighteen companies tendered their bids and four were shortlisted for the Library tender. China Chrome Mining Company Private Limited was awarded the construction contract at a price of twenty one million seven hundred and ninety six thousand four hundred and sixty six dollars sixty four cents (US$21 796 466.64). Under the contract, the Library project is expected to be complete in 2017 after which the University will be expected to repay the contractor over a period of 2 years. Meanwhile, the University will mobilise funds for repayment through donors and various fundraising initiatives. Speaking at the contract signing ceremony that was held at the University on 6 August 2015, the Midlands State University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ngwabi Bhebe expressed delight that the project would finally take off stating, In light of the depressed economy that has seen Universities struggling to pursue infrastructure development projects, there is need to
formulate innovative resource mobilisation models that support institutions operations. This agreement between Midlands State University and China Chrome Mining Company is a remarkable breakthrough as it will enable us to realise our dream of building a modern library for our valued stakeholders, the students. The contractor, China Chrome Mining Company represented by Mr X Cheng was also presented with the Site Handover Certificate for the construction of the library during the contract signing ceremony. Cognisant, of the fact that a library is the information and knowledge nerve centre of any academic institution, the construction of a state-of-the-art library is a welcomed development for the entire University community that would see Midlands State University enhance the delivery of its core business, that of teaching, learning and research.

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CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY

  • 1. MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY TO CONSTRUCT STATE-OF-THE- ART LIBRARY 'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need', in this famous quotation, Marcus Tullius Cicero, an acclaimed ancient Roman lawyer and scholar captures the value of information and knowledge in society. As part of efforts to provide requisite physical structures for its principal stakeholder, the students, Midlands State University is set to construct a state-of-the-art double storey library with a carrying capacity of 12 800 books at the Graduate School of Business Leadership, Faculty of Law and Commerce Campus in Gweru. Plans to construct a library have been on the table for quite some time but the project has been stalled due to lack of sufficient funding and the obtaining adverse economic conditions. However, determined to ensure the availability of adequate teaching, learning and research facilities, Midlands State University continued to explore various resource mobilisation options. The options included securing a partner that could build the library on a turnkey basis, that is, one with the capacity and willingness to finance the construction of the library to completion using their own resources. The University then issued a tender in line with the provisions of the State Procurement Board. A total of eighteen companies tendered their bids and four were shortlisted for the Library tender. China Chrome Mining Company Private Limited was awarded the construction contract at a price of twenty one million seven hundred and ninety six thousand four hundred and sixty six dollars sixty four cents (US$21 796 466.64). Under the contract, the Library project is expected to be complete in 2017 after which the University will be expected to repay the contractor over a period of 2 years. Meanwhile, the University will mobilise funds for repayment through donors and various fundraising initiatives. Speaking at the contract signing ceremony that was held at the University on 6 August 2015, the Midlands State University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ngwabi Bhebe expressed delight that the project would finally take off stating, In light of the depressed economy that has seen Universities struggling to pursue infrastructure development projects, there is need to
  • 2. formulate innovative resource mobilisation models that support institutions operations. This agreement between Midlands State University and China Chrome Mining Company is a remarkable breakthrough as it will enable us to realise our dream of building a modern library for our valued stakeholders, the students. The contractor, China Chrome Mining Company represented by Mr X Cheng was also presented with the Site Handover Certificate for the construction of the library during the contract signing ceremony. Cognisant, of the fact that a library is the information and knowledge nerve centre of any academic institution, the construction of a state-of-the-art library is a welcomed development for the entire University community that would see Midlands State University enhance the delivery of its core business, that of teaching, learning and research.