Dr Godfrey B Nyamushamba was born in Rushinga, Zimbabwe. He obtained the following degrees from the Women’s University in Africa: BSc. Agric. Hons in Animal Science (2006) and Masters in Business Administration (2010). He also obtained an MSc in Animal Science (2012) from the University of Zimbabwe and enrolled for my PhD in Animal Science in 2014 at the University of Fort Hare. His PhD research, conducted in South Africa, investigated the effects of non-genetic factors affecting cow and calf performance of indigenous Nguni cattle and characterise their morphological characteristics. The study demonstrated that cow and calf performance was affected by age and sex of the calf, season and parity of the dam. Prediction equations based on heart girth can be used efficiently to estimate live body weight of indigenous Nguni cattle. The study also concluded that calf and cow performance was affected by non-genetic factors. It was recommended that when selecting for linear measurements, age and season of measurement should be given seriously considered and adjusted for. To date he have published 15 publications in refereed reputable journals to date and he completed my PhD in Animal Science in 2017.

One of his research papers is a review paper published in 2017 from my completed PhD thesis which focused on, ‘Cow and calf performance, morphological diversity and the relationship between body weight and linear type traits of indigenous Nguni cattle.’ He recently graduated on 10 May 2018 at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa. My supervisors were Prof Voster Muchenje (University of Fort Hare) and Dr Cletos Mapiye (University of Stellenbosch). Currently he is the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. He was appointed on 1 March 2018. He joined Women’s University in Africa in 2008 as a Teaching Assistant and was appointed Lecturer in Animal Science in September 2012. He was the programme coordinator of Agribusiness Management from 2010 to 2016 and in 2017 he was appointed Animal Science Programme Coordinator. His research interests is on animal production and the conservation of indigenous animal genetic resources.

Dr Itai Hlonie Mafa is a self-motivated and critical social worker who is enthusiastic about academia, gender issues, social policing, social justice and sexual and reproductive health rights. She has a proven record in social research and has been consulted for research projects in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Dr Mafa is involved in various research committees in the faculty which has sharpened her research skills. She has also accumulated more than ten years of extensive experience in tertiary institutions as a lecturer for various Social Work courses and carrying out post-graduate research supervision. Dr Itai Hlonie Mafa has a well-developed teaching philosophy and a flexible attitude to work, with excellent communication and written skills. Dr Mafa has participated in curricula development and curricula review in Zimbabwe and South Africa, contributing to quality assurance. She is the current NASW-Z treasurer, a thought leader for ZIMCHE and was also involved in consolidating MBKs.

• PhD in Social Work: University of Fort Hare (2015-2017)
• Master of Social Science Social Work: University of Fort Hare (2013-2014)
• Bachelor of Social Work: University of Fort Hare (2009–2012)
• HEXCO Computer programs: Mutendi High School (2001-2004)

Published articles

Mukurazhizha, R and Mafa, I. (2022). Flaws in preparing children with disabilities for life after Institutional Care in Zimbabwe: Implications for Social Work Practice. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 37

Chisango, T., Mafa I., & Maunganidze, L. (2022). Investigating the sexist implications of Bride Price (Lobola) in Zimbabwe. Society doi:10.1007/s12115-022-00743-7

Chigangaidze, R., Mafa, I., Simango, T and Mudewe, E. (2022). Establishing the relevance of the Ubuntu philosophy in Social work Practice: Inspired by the Ubuntu World Social Work Month 2021 Celebration and the IFSW (2014) global definition of Social work. International Social work:Doi:10.1177/00208728221078374

Chatukuta, A and Mafa, I. (2022). The significance of the clinical social workers’ dress in the helping process: The clients’ perceptions. Practice: Doi:10.1080/09503153.2022.2035706

Simango, T.G and Mafa, I. (2022). Child Disciplinary Practices versus Child Rights in Zimbabwe: Viewed through Social Work Lenses Qualitative Sociological Review 18 (1) 114-131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.18.1.06

Charamba, S., Mafa, I and Chikadzi, V. (2021). ‘In the eye of the storm’: An exploration of the psychosocial experiences of teen mothers in Zimbabwe. Indian Journal of Social Work (82) 12

Mafa, I., Simango, T. and Chisango, T. (2021). Under-Reportage of ‘Sex-For-Marks’ Cases within Public Universities in Zimbabwe. Sexuality, Gender and Policy Doi:10.1002/SGP2.12038

Mafa, I and Simango, T.G. (2021). Exploring the ‘Thigh-For-Marks’ Phenomenon among Public Universities in Zimbabwe. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work https:/doi.org/10.1007/s41134-021-00188-8

Chisango, T., Muridzo, N., Mafa, I and Khombo, S. (2021). An exploration of the stereotype content model to university lectures. Journal of Applied Social Sciences https:/doi.org/10.1177/19367244211026915

Mafa, I. (2021). Pertinent ills concomitant with matrifocality in Zimbabwe: Implications for development. Innovare Journal of Social Sciences, 9 (2):10-15

Muridzo, N, Chikadzi, V., Mahunste S and Mafa, I. (2021). Legal shortcomings in the VFS forums responding to child sexual abuse: Lessons from a Zimbabwean case study. African Journal of Social Work 11(1): 32-39

Mafa, I., Kange’the S. and Chikadzi, V. (2020). ‘Revenge Pornography’ and Women Issues: Implications for Social Work Practice and Women’s Rights. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 5 (1) : 118-128 https://doi:10.1007/s41134-020-00118-0

Mahuntshe, L., Muridzo, N., Chikadzi, V and Mafa, I. (2020). Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe: Lessons from 2018 Cholera outbreak. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 35 (Special Issue): 91-106

Mafa, I and Kange’the, S. (2019).Women-NGOs and Financial Viability: Implications for Women Empowerment Processes from a Social Work Perspective. African Journal of Social Work, 9(2):43-51

Muridzo, N., Chikadzi, V., Mafa, I and Chinyenze, P. (2018). Parental Circumstances leading to Child Sexual Abuse in Zimbabwe. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 33(2):135-168

Mafa, I and Kange’the S.M. (2016). Exploring the Underpinnings of Pseudo-Prostitution in Institutions of Higher Learning in selected African countries. Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 7(3):167-174

Mafa, I & Kange’the S.M. (2016). A critical Analysis of the prostitution phenomenon, drawing examples from selected African countries: A Literature Review. Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 7(4):279-288

Kange’the S.M and Mafa I. (2014). Evaluating the survival strategies adopted by single mothers to enhance their livelihood in Zimbabwe. Mediterranean Journal, 5 (2): 1222-1229

Kange’the S.M and Mafa I. (2014). Dynamics associated with the state of cohabitation in developing countries. A literature Review. Mediterranean Journal, 5(4):601-609

Kange’the S.M and Mafa I. (2014). Assessing Post-Apartheid Poverty in South Africa. A literature Review. Mediterranean Journal, 5(1):449-456

Kange’the S.M and Mafa I. (2014). Dynamics associated with matrifocality in Zimbabwe. Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 5(2):131-139

Published Book Chapter (s)

Mudewe, E., Simango, T., Mafa, I and Chingangaidze, R. (2022). Demystifying the National Case Management System in Child protection. In Professional Social Work in Zimbabwe: Putting Children First. Beyond the Vale Publishing: Edenvale, South Africa

Published Book (s)

Mafa, I. (2020). Identity and Identity Crisis: A Practical Guide to Finding Your True Self. Kindle Direct Publishing

Dr. Abigail Rudorwashe Benhura attained her PhD in Conflict, Transformation and Peace Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 2017. She immediately enrolled for her Postdoctoral Studies with the same university until December 2018. She also holds an MSc in Development Studies from the Women’s University in Africa. During this period, she was also the University of KwaZulu-Natal coordinator of the Young Women’s Leadership Workshop, an African Gender Institute sponsored organization which brought together 7 universities from the SADC region. These universities tackled institutional gendered issues that mainly affected young female students during their study periods. She joined WUA in 2019 as a senior lecturer in Child Sensitive Social Policies where she rose to the position of the department’s coordinator before being appointed to the position of the Dean of Students in 2021.
As the Dean of Students, she sees to the general welfare of students which covers physical and mental health, counselling during bereavement, advice and moral support to students experiencing emotional stress. Her responsibilities also encompass facilitating students’ participation in sports, clubs and social activities, institutional governance and accommodation needs. During her tenure as the Dean of Students, the Department of Student Affairs has become more inclusive of students in WUA satellite campuses as they participate in a wide range of areas such as the Student Representative Council, clubs and societies, inter-institutional sports tournaments and national events. She facilitated the amendment of the SRC Constitution to include a Gender and Inclusion Secretary whose responsibility is to ensure that students’ diversity and needs are catered for such as disability-induced needs, mature students or single (mothers) parents’ unique needs as they pursue their studies. Various WUA teams have also reached varying levels of success in the highly competitive Zimbabwe Universities Sports Association (ZUSA), Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sport Union (ZTISU) and Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA), SAYWHAT Quiz and Debate.
In the academic arena, Dr Abigail Benhura is a seasoned researcher who has done extensive research on forced migration, with keen interest on the migrants’ lived realities, access to (or lack of) basic services and the general socio-political and economic implications of the populations’ involuntary mobility. Her doctoral research interrogated the provision of secondary school education in displaced communities in Zimbabwe. She has also made her mark in regional and international scientific research conferences where she presented papers predominantly in forced mobilities and more recently, in social protection policy and services. She has won grants, done collaborative and individual research on various topical issues such as gendered perspectives on the efficacy of social protection services, intersections of gender, disabilities and poverty in the informal sector as well as in the tourism sector.

Sam Takavarasha Jr is the dean of the Faculty of Management and Entrepreneurial Sciences Women’s University of Africa. Prior to that Sam lectured Information Systems and worked as researcher at the University of Portsmouth UK, University of Zimbabwe and University of Fort Hare, SA. He is the author of one book, and several peer reviewed papers on Information Systems. Sam has served as editor of Information Systems journal issues, track chair, associate editor and on editorial boards of conferences and book projects.

Membership: Association for Information Systems (AIS); United Kingdom Association of Information Systems (UKIS), South African Institute of Computer Scientist and Information Technologists (SAICSIT), International Network for Postgraduate Students (IPID); ICTD-Research Africa Network; Fabian Society and Zimbabwe Information Communication Technologies (ZICT).

Current Post: Dean of the Faculty of Management and Entrepreneurial Sciences Women’s University of Africa (Zimbabwe).

Academic Profile: PhD Information Systems (ICT4D) University of Zimbabwe (2016), BSc Hon Computer and Information Systems (2006). Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods (2007), Postgraduates as Teachers, Tutors and Demonstrators (2007) University of Portsmouth.

Professional Profile: Dr Sam Takavarasha Jr has conducted three national consultancy projects in Zimbabwe, two of which he was the principal investigator.
Sam lectured Information Systems (e-business, e-commerce and IT Project Management) at the University of Portsmouth, UK; University of Fort Hare South Africa and Women’s University in Africa (WUA).

Research Interest: His research interests include ICT for Development, e-Commerce, Capability Approach, Activity Theory, Mixed Methods Research and Information Systems in Developing Countries.

Editorial Experience: Sam Takavarasha Jr’s editorial activity includes being special issue journal editor, for EJISDC and IJISPM, reviewing for several IS journals and Conferences, editing a book project, being track chair for international conferences like ECIS 2017, Guimaraes, Portugal and ECIS 2018 Portsmouth, UK and program committee member IFIP HCC13 Poznan, Poland, IFIP HCC 14 Tokyo Japan, ICTAS2017/8 Durban, South Africa, SAIMS 2019 Port Elizabeth, South Africa among others.