The Zimbabwean government has said it will close universities or university programs that are inadequately funded because they compromise the quality of education.
Permanent Secretary Washington Mbizvo of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary education told reporters recently that institutions with a critical shortage of lectures would close.
The ministry recently suspended doctoral programs at the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo due to a shortage of lecturers.
Zimbabwe has 13 universities, nine state-run, the others private.
University of Zimbabwe Vice-Chancellor Levy Nyagura told Parliament recently that his instituiton was hiring expatriate lecturers and bringing back former staff members.
Many university lecturers, like other Zimbabwean professionals, have left the country in droves to seek better paying jobs in neighboring countries.
Education expert Isaac Mpofu told VOA Studio 7 reporter Chris Gande that the government must give a higher priority to education before shutting down programs.