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VOL. 15, NO.4

Africa University has grown, but needs continued support

by Rukudzo Murapa

It is now a little more than 11 years since Africa University first opened its doors in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. The first group of 40 students represented six different African nationalities.

In these short 11 years, Africa University has witnessed more than 1,000 of its graduates assume positions of influence in their respective countries on the continent.

When the idea of a United Methodist Church-sponsored pan-African university was first advocated by African bishops, many felt it was preposterous and unachievable.

The 1988 General Conference endorsed the idea as a central project of the church, with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry given the mandate to establish the school.

In 1992, the government of Zimbabwe gave the university a charter to operate as the first private, pan-African and church-related university in the country. In March that year, the university began operations under the leadership of John Kurewa, the founding vice-chancellor.

Today, Africa University has a student population of more than 1,200, drawn from 22 African nationalities enrolled in five fully operational faculties (schools): theology, agriculture and natural resources, education, management and administration, and humanities and social sciences. In 2002, the creation of a sixth faculty, health sciences, was approved.

For its operations, Africa University has continued to rely on apportioned giving from The United Methodist Church. In principal, this amounts to $10 million per quadrennium, or $2.5 million per year.

However, after prior claim by such agencies as United Methodist Communications, and given the fact that some churches are not always able to meet their Africa University apportionment obligations, the university generally realizes about $1.8 million per year.

Student tuition fees are another important source of income for the university. However, due to the poor economic conditions prevailing in most African countries, tuition fees are generally set at fairly low levels. In fact, a large number of students depend on scholarships drawn from the universitys endowment fund, as well as direct or designated scholarships from well-wishers.

The university has also benefited a great deal from financial support for specific activities from foundations, such as Rockefeller, Ford, W. K. Kellogg and others.

For capital development, the university relied on churches and annual conferences, as well as individuals and families. This has been particularly true with respect to the construction of student hostels. Noteworthy is the support that has been received from Dr. Jonas and the late Odette Kennedy, the Kliest Foundation, the North and South Indiana annual conferences, the Ben Hill UMC and the Washington West District of the Baltimore-Washington Conference (see story on page 12).

The university has also been the recipient of invaluable donations from people who have chosen to remain anonymous. The most recent is a piece of real estate valued at about $5 million, given by an elderly couple with a long tradition of support to Africa University. Another couple has made a sizeable donation for the establishment of a Chair in Peace Studies.

For the first few years of its 11-year history, Africa University operated from old farm barns and dilapidated buildings. Today, the university boasts of a modern campus with physical facilities whose quality is a source of pride for the church and for those who have supported this noble cause.

Yet the needs of the university continue to grow, hence the need for continued financial, material and moral support from the church. The thirst for education among young African women and men is getting deeper, as is the need for us to develop a new crop of leadership for the African continent, a leadership that will tackle head-on the issues of civil strife, famine, poor governance and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Since 1988, the Africa University Fund has been set at $10 million per quadrennium, yet the university has continued to grow. The World Service Special, also set at $10 million, has never really taken off.

The appeal is, therefore, not for additional funds, but simply to have the church meet its current obligations as re-affirmed in the 2000 General Conference.

Professor Rukudzo Murapa is vice-chancellor (president) of Africa University. This commentary is adapted from a letter Murapa wrote in January.