White Elephant

Tanzania’s govt-funded university with no students for 13 years
TUESDAY JANUARY 24 2023

Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology
Tanzania’s Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology which has been receiving millions of shillings in government funds for over a decade yet it has not enrolled any student since it was established. PHOTO | THE CITIZEN

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citizenBy THE CITIZEN
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Tanzania’s Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology in Butiama District, Mara Region has been receiving millions of shillings in government funds for over a decade yet it has not enrolled any student since it was established.

Though it requires a budget of more than Tsh1 billion ($428,000) per year, it barely receives a fraction of that amount, and it has never trained a single student.

According to information acquired at the university during a weekend visit by Parliament’s Social Services and Community Development Committee, the institution requires more than Tsh1 billion per year to operate properly. However, it currently gets Tsh400 million ($171,000) per year.

Employees
The university employs 80 people, including more than 60 academic staff, over 40 of whom are currently studying at different levels including PhD.

What is most intriguing is that the university has been without students for 13 years, despite the presence of a chancellor and lecturers.

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Mickey mouse, where is that white elephant? Ama Wacha tu

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Tsh 400,000,000 is equivalent to Ksh 21,260,000.