If you have had the experiencing of graduating, or attending the graduation of a family member, you will know the ceremony is a curious experience. At one level it is all very routine and mechanical. Yet at another level it is emblematic of deep experiences, adversities overcome, and achievement attained.
This was all the more so at ZTU on Friday when the University awarded the first two MTh degrees in its history. Of course, it was meaningful for Thokozani Chilembwe and Hastings Phale, the first two graduates. But in the spirit of “it takes a village to raise a child,” it was meaningful for all connected with the University community. At any rate, they raised the roof when these two graduates stepped forward.
It was the visible symbol of the fact that we have a viable Masters programme at our young University, the fruit of the work that has been steadily done since the first students enrolled in 2022. Now we have quite a long queue of aspirants who are working on their dissertations and hoping that they will be stepping up at the next graduation.
In the bigger picture, Malawi is battling with many reverses and adversities. Her best hope is the quality of her people and the more their educational attainment, the better equipped they are to make a difference. Thus Friday was a day of hope.
Thinking Mission Blog 