US committed to funding Zim education

via US committed to funding Zim education 04/11/2013 NewZimbabwe

THE United States (US) government is committed to helping Zimbabweans from poorer backgrounds pursue further education at American institutions, the Washington’s envoy to Harare has said.

Bruce Wharton told journalists at the on-going College Fair in Harare that he believed those who study at American universities can return and assist in the development of the country.

“If you look around even in Zimbabwe’s cabinet, business and social circles you will see that there are people who have done their PHDs with US institutions,” Wharton said.

Wharton however, said because of the “complicated” nature of the relations between Zimbabwe and the US “we cannot just write out big cheques”.

“We view education a fundamental and an absolutely essential part of Zimbabwe’s progress and we will continue to support in any way we can. We have a complicated relationship but we will continue to support education,” the US envoy said.

“We support it in a number of ways and besides providing support to the transition fund, we are standing in the middle of one of those activities (the college fair) and we hope to expand that horizon.”

The College Fair, organised by the embassy, brought together 18 universities and colleges from the US, Canada and Spain. Recruitment specialists from the institutions were on hand to assist would be students to apply for places in these colleges.

Canadian ambassador Lisa Stadelbauer said her country would also continue to assist young and brilliant Zimbabweans with education funds.

“Zimbabweans are known as hardworking people and our universities are very fond of students from this country. We are committed to helping these children as well as other Zimbabweans as we have done in the past,” she said.