Financing University Education through Public-Private Partnership at Midlands State University in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Zimbabwe suffered an economic meltdown between 2000 and 2009. Inflation rose to a record four-digit figure and unemployment rate was above 80%. The decade of severe political and economic challenges had a negative impact on the development all the sectors of the economy. Universities in the country were not spare the ordeal; there was an exodus of qualified personnel out of the university system to greener pastures outside of Zimbabwe. Expansion projects and programmes were stalled and the quality of education offered to students was greatly affected (Chimhowu, Manjengwa and Feresu 2012). In 2009, there was SADC-supervised political agreement in the country. From 2009 to 2011, government of Zimbabwe still could not finance University education. However, during this period, some of the universities started developing despite government’s failure to finance infrastructural development projects at universities. This study investigated how a state university achieved massive expansion from in 2010. The study was carried out in 2012. Data were collected from the university’s Fund Raising Documents. The key findings were that trough public–private partnership (PPP), the university was able to construct and furnish a multimillion dollar state-of-the art administration block, construct and furnish five classroom blocks and a clinic at their Post Graduate Campus. A two-storey library and hostel are under construction at the main campus. The university has raised enough financial and material support from the PPPs to construct another two-storey building at their Post Graduate Campus. This paper concludes that PPPs are an effective way of financing university education.