# List of University of Zimbabwe people

This list of University of Zimbabwe people includes notable alumni, professors, and administrators associated with the University of Zimbabwe, formerly the University of Rhodesia.

## Alumni
### Academia

* Douglas B. Allen, professor and MBA director at the University of Denver
* Kathleen Coleman (1975), classicist and professor at Harvard University
* John McDowell, South African philosopher and professor at the University of Pittsburgh
* Peter McLaughlin, Northern Irish-Zimbabwean educator, historian, and school administrator
* Levi Nyagura, mathematician; Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe since 2003

### Business and finance

* Gideon Gono, banker; Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe 2003–2013
* David Hatendi (1976), businessman and banker; Zimbabwe's first black Rhodes Scholar
* Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo, businessman, political activist, and commercial farmer
* Blessing Mudavanhu, businessman, banker, and corporate executive

### Entertainment

* Lucian Msamati (1997), British-Tanzanian actor
* Xoliswa Sithole (1987), Zimbabwean-South African actress and documentary filmmaker

### Government, law, and politics
#### Political officeholders

* Michael Lulume Bayigga (2004), Ugandan physician and Member of Parliament
* Tendai Biti (1990), lawyer and Member of Parliament; Minister of Finance 2009–2013
* Nelson Chamisa, lawyer and Member of Parliament; Minister of Information and Communications Technology 2009–2013
* Fortune Chasi, lawyer and Member of Parliament
* Fay Chung (1968), educator and politician; Minister of Education, Sport and Culture 1988–1993
* Lord Robert Hayward; British politician and Member of Parliament 1983–1992
* Rebecca Kadaga (2000, 2003); Ugandan politician and Member of Parliament; Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament since 2011
* David Karimanzira (1973); educator and politician; Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture 1985–1987; Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Settlement 1987–1990; Minister of Higher Education and Technology 1990–1993; Minister of Information, Post and Telecommunications 1993–1997; Governor of Mashonaland East Province 1997–2006; Governor of Harare Province 2006–2011
* Jessie Majome (1995, 2008), lawyer and Member of Parliament
* Witness Mangwende, politician; Minister of Foreign Affairs 1981–1987; Ministry of Information, Posts, and Telecommunications 1987–1991; Minister of Lands, Agriculture, and Rural Resettlement 1991–1994; Minister of Education and Culture 1995–2002; Minister of Transport and Communication 2002–2004; Governor of Harare Province 2004–2005
* Oppah Muchinguri, politician; Member of Parliament until 2008; Minister of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development 2005-2009; Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education and Science and Technology Development 2014-2015; Minister of Environment, Water and Climate since 2015
* Arthur Mutambara (1990), politician and founder of the Movement for Democratic Change – Mutambara party; Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe 2009–2013
* Benon Mutambi, economist and civil servant, Permanent Secretary of the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs since 2016
* Christopher Mutsvangwa (attended), businessman, diplomat, and politician; Zimbabwean Ambassador to China 2002–2006; Member of Parliament 2013–2016; Minister for War Veterans 2014–2016; Chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association since 2014; Minister of Media, Information, and Broadcast Services since 2017
* Welshman Ncube, lawyer, businessman, professor, and politician; Minister of Industry and Commerce 2009–2013
* Sophia Simba, Tanzanian politician and Member of Parliament; Minister of Community Development, Gender and Children 2006–2008 and 2010–2015
* Lulama Xingwana, South African politician; Member of Parliament since 1994; Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs 2006–2009; Minister of Arts and Culture 2009–2010; Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities 2010–2014
* Patrick Zhuwao; politician, businessman, and farmer; Member of Parliament 2008-2013; Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment 2015-2017; Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare 2017

#### Diplomats

* Boniface Chidyausiku, diplomat; Zimbabwean ambassador to China and North Korea (1990–1996), Angola (1996–1999), the World Trade Organization (1999–2002), the United Nations (1999–2010), and Russia (2011–2015)
* Julian Harston, British diplomat for Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service and the United Nations
* Tichaona Jokonya, politician and diplomat; Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ethiopia 1983–1988; Minister of Information 2005–2006
* Mike Nicholas Sango, Zimbabwe National Army brigadier general and diplomat; Zimbabwean Ambassador to Russia since 2015
* Trudy Stevenson; politician and diplomat; founding member of the Movement for Democratic Change; Member of Parliament 2000–2008; Zimbabwean ambassador to Senegal and The Gambia since 2009

#### Lawyers and judges

* Ishmael Chatikobo (1979), former justice of the High Court of Zimbabwe
* George Chikumbirike (1979), prominent Harare lawyer
* Moses Chinhengo (1979), former justice of the High Court of Zimbabwe
* George Chiweshe (1988), Zimbabwe National Army brigadier general; chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
* Anne-Marie Gowora (1979), justice of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe since 2012; justice of the High Court of Zimbabwe 2000–2012
* Steven W. Hawkins (1985), American lawyer; former director of the NAACP and Amnesty International
* Irene Mulyagonja, Ugandan lawyer and judge; justice of the High Court of Uganda 2008–2012; Inspector General of the Government since 2012
* Simpson Mutambanengwe (1959), Zimbabwean-Namibian lawyer and judge; justice of the High Court of Zimbabwe 1986–1994; Justice of the High Court of Namibia 1994–?; he also served on the Supreme Court of Namibia; acting Chief Justice of Namibia 2004; Chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission 2010–2013
* Tawanda Mutasah, lawyer and senior director of law and policy at Amnesty International
* Mkhululi Nyathi (1999) lawyer and former member of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
* Bharat Patel (1975), acting Attorney General of Zimbabwe 2003 and 2007–2008; Justice of the High Court of Zimbabwe 2005–2013; Justice of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe since 2013
* Jacqueline Pratt (1979), former Harare magistrate
* Vusi Pikoli (1988), South African lawyer; Director of the National Prosecuting Authority 2005–2007
* Shafimana Ueitele (1990), Namibian lawyer and judge; former Electoral Commissioner of Namibia and Justice of the High Court of Namibia

#### Activists and political figures

* Sarah Kachingwe (1961), politician and activist; first black female to enroll at the then-University College of Rhodesia in 1957
* Lovemore Madhuku (1990), lawyer and democracy activist
* Alex Magaisa (1997), lawyer and former advisor to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai; lecturer at the University of Kent
* Fadzayi Mahere (2008), lawyer and political activist
* Betty Makoni, educator and female sexual abuse victims' activist
* Janice McLaughlin (1992), nun, missionary, human rights activist
* Diana Mitchell, writer and political activist
* Daniel Molokele (1999), lawyer and democracy activist
* Earnest Mudzengi (2001), human rights and democracy activist
* Everjoice Win (1988), feminist activist
* Beauty Zhuwao, politician; former Mashonaland West provincial treasurer for ZANU–PF
* Brilliant Sigabade Mhlanga, (2001) (2002), Former Secretary General of the SRC UZ, NCA - National Human Rights Chair, Prominent Activist from Matebeleland and Pro-Mthwakazi Activist, Senior Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire

### Journalism and media

* Caroline Gombakomba, radio journalist
* Michael Holman (1968), journalist and novelist; Africa editor for the Financial Times
* Julian Marshall, British journalist and radio broadcaster for the BBC World Service
* Trevor Ncube, businessman and newspaper publisher

### Literature

* Catherine Buckle (1979), farmer and writer
* Shimmer Chinodya, novelist
* Chirikure Chirikure, poet, writer, and musician
* Tsitsi Dangarembga, novelist and filmmaker
* Petina Gappah, lawyer, writer, and novelist
* Chenjerai Hove, poet, novelist, and essayist
* Alexander Kanengoni, writer
* Dambudzo Marechera, novelist, playwright, poet, and short story writer
* Albert Nyathi, poet
* Len Rix, translator of Hungarian literature
* Irene Sabatini, novelist
* Elinor Sisulu, Zimbabwean-South African writer and activist

### Medicine, science, and technology

* Sir Michael Berridge, British physiologist and biochemist
* Charles Changunda, chemist and HIV/AIDS researcher
* Pride Chigwedere, physician and HIV/AIDS researcher
* Rachel Chikwamba, biopharmaceutical researcher
* Solomon Guramatunhu, ophthalmologist
* Milton Simbarashe Kambarami, Biochemist, Bioinformaticist and Evolutionary Virologist notable for his work in SARS CoV 2 (COVID19) Research
* Steven Hatfill (1984), American physician, virologist, and biological weapons researcher
* Jonathan Hutton (1984), British-Zimbabwean ecologist and conservationist; professor at the University of Kent
* Tonderai Kasu, Substantive Director of Health and Environmental Services for Chitungwiza and Former Acting Town Clerk (Acting Chief Executive) for Chitungwiza Town Council
* Elizabeth Mambo, biochemist and cancer researcher
* Collen Masimirembwa, biochemist, founder and professor (African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology)
* Bothwell Mbuwayesango, pediatric surgeon who successfully separated conjoined twins in 2014
* Victor Moyo, physician and cancer researcher
* Francisca Mutapi, parasite immunologist and the first black female professor at the University of Edinburgh
* Madeline Nyamwanza-Makonese (1970), physician and first female doctor in Zimbabwe
* Fadzai Zengeya, academic and Geographic information system specialist

### Music

* Viomak, musician and political activist

### Religion

* Albert Chama, Zambian Anglican bishop; Archbishop of Central Africa since 2011
* Rob Nairn, South African lawyer and Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author

### Visual arts

* Rashid Lombard, South African photographer and photojournalist

### Other

* Maud Chifamba, youngest university student in Africa at age 14, award-winning activist and speaker
* Patrick Matope, social worker who has practiced in Zimbabwe, Namibia and England where he has been a senior manager in a few local authorities since 2016. He also hosts a YouTube channel which highlights topical social work related content and disseminates information especially to newly qualified social workers and also those recruited abroad.
* Crispen Mawadza, (Year 2000), Political Science graduate and first Zimbabwean to earn a Post Graduate Degree in Development Finance, went on to work in Swaziland, Nigeria and briefly in South Africa. Became a World Bank Financial Sector Specialist for 10 years before retiring to found own businesses.

## Faculty
### Academia
#### Principals of the University of Zimbabwe

* William Rollo, interim Principal 1953–1955
* Walter Adams, Principal 1955–1967
* Terence Miller, Principal 1967–1969
* Robert Craig Principal 1969–1980
* Leonard Lewis, Principal 1980–1981
* Walter Kamba, Vice-Chancellor 1981–1992
* Gordon Chavunduka, Vice-Chancellor 1992–1996
* Graham Hill, Vice-Chancellor 1997–2002
* Levi Nyagura, Vice-Chancellor 2003–

#### University heads

A number of former University of Zimbabwe faculty and administrators have gone on to head other universities:
* Sir Walter Adams, Director of the London School of Economics
* Ngwabi Bhebhe, Vice-Chancellor of Midlands State University
* Cowdeng Chikomba, Vice-Chancellor of Bindura University of Science Education
* Peter Dzvimbo, Vice-Chancellor of Zimbabwe Open University and Rector of the African Virtual University
* Phineas Makhurane, Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Science and Technology
* Lindela Ndlovu, Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Science and Technology
* Emmanuel Ngara, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
* Charles Nherera, Vice-Chancellor of Chinhoyi University of Technology
* David Simbi, Vice-Chancellor of Chinhoyi University of Technology
* Julius Weinberg, Vice-Chancellor of Kingston University
* Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor of University of Pretoria

#### Educators and school administrators

* Ezra Chitando, Zimbabwean academic; lecturer in History
* Peter McLaughlin, Northern Irish historian and school administrator; lecturer in modern history at UZ 1977–1983
* [Munyaradzi Mawere], Zimbabwean academic- professor extraordinarius in Interdisciplinary Research and professor of African studies

### Government, law, and politics
#### Political officeholders

* Canaan Banana, Methodist minister and politician, President of Zimbabwe 1980–1987; chair of the religion department at UZ in the 1980s
* Ignatius Chombo, politician and businessman; Minister of Local Government 2000–2015; Minister of Home Affairs 2015–2017; Minister of Finance 2017; lecturer and department chair at UZ 1988–1992
* Heneri Dzinotyiweyi, mathematician and Member of Parliament; Minister of Science and Technology Development since 2009; former dean of science at UZ
* Munyaradzi Gwisai, Socialist and political activist; former Member of Parliament
* Owen Horwood, South African economist and politician; South African Minister of Finance 1975–1984; taught economics at UZ in the late 1950s
* Jonathan Moyo, politician; Minister of Information 2000–2005, 2013–2015; Member of Parliament 2005–2013; Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development 2015–2017; was a lecturer at UZ in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies 1988–1993
* Elphas Mukonoweshuro, political scientist and politician; Minister of Public Service 2009–2011; taught political science at UZ
* Welshman Ncube, lawyer, businessman, and politician; Minister of Industry and Commerce 2009–2013; taught law at UZ 1985–2000; chair of the Department of Private Law at UZ 1988–1996
* Malcolm Rifkind, British lawyer and politician; Member of Parliament 1974–2015; British Foreign Secretary 1995–1997; was an assistant lecturer at UZ 1967–1968.

#### Lawyers and judges

* Anne Hellum, Norwegian jurist and professor at the University of Oslo Faculty of Law; visiting professor of law at UZ since 1989
* Ben Hlatwayo, Justice of the High Court of Zimbabwe
* Lovemore Madhuku, lawyer and democracy activist; previously taught law at UZ
* Rita Makarau, Justice and President of the High Court of Zimbabwe
* Mkhululi Nyathi, lawyer and former member of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission; taught public law at UZ 2002–2004

#### Activists and political figures

* Panashe Eric Chivenge, political activist; Chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly

### Humanities

* Giovanni Arrighi, Italian economist and sociologist; professor at Johns Hopkins University
* David Beach, British-Zimbabwean historian
* Korkut Boratav, Turkish Marxian economist; taught at UZ 1984–1986
* Ernest Bulle, academic and politician; taught African languages at UZ in the 1970s
* Jackson Mutero Chirenje, historian and former professor at Harvard University; former lecturer and chair of the history department at UZ
* Peter Garlake, archaeologist and historian; professor at UZ 1964–1970; forced to leave Rhodesia in 1970 due to his research concluding that Great Zimbabwe was built by the Shona people
* Shadrack Gutto, Chair of African Renaissance Studies at the University of South Africa; taught at UZ until he was deported from Zimbabwe in 1988.
* Ioan Lewis, Scottish anthropologist and historian; taught at UZ in the 1960s
* John McCracken, Scottish historian; taught at UZ 1964–1965, when he left following Rhodesia's UDI
* Diana Mitchell, political activist and writer; taught science at UZ
* Brian Raftopoulos, historian and former professor of Development Studies at UZ
* Terence Ranger, British historian; taught history at UZ 1957–1963 when he was deported from Rhodesia for his views on African history that the government considered radical
* Barrie Pettman, businessman, academic, and philanthropist; was director of the manpower unit at UZ 1978–1979

### Literature

* Charles Mungoshi, novelist and short story writer; writer-in-residence at UZ 1982–1985
* Solomon Mutswairo, novelist and poet; wrote the lyrics to the National Anthem of Zimbabwe; former writer-in-residence at UZ
* Len Rix, translator of Hungarian literature; taught English at UZ
* Clive Wake, South African editor and translator of modern French and African literature
* Musaemura Zimunya; writer and poet; professor of English at UZ since 1980

### Medicine, science, and technology

* Gordon Chavunduka, sociologist and traditional African medicine advocate; former President of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association; Vice-Chancellor of UZ 1992–1996
* Christopher Chetsanga, biochemist; taught at UZ 1983–2017; dean of science 1986–1991; Pro-Vice-Chancellor 1991–1993
* Innocent Gangaidzo, academic and gastroenterologist, who currently serves as the president of the East, Central, and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ESCACOP).
* Michael Gelfand, South African-Zimbabwean physician; professor of African Medicine at UZ 1962–1970; professor and head of the department of medicine 1970–1977
* James Gita Hakim, professor of medicine, cardiologist and HIV clinical trialist
* Graham Hill, veterinary surgeon and researcher; Vice-Chancellor of UZ 1997–2002
* Laurence Levy, first neurosurgeon in Africa; professor of surgery and anatomy at UZ
* Terence Miller, British geologist; Principal of UZ 1967–1969
* Louis Miles Muggleton, South African-British physicist and electrical engineer; founder, professor, and dean of the Faculty of Engineering at UZ 1973–1980
* Brian Walker, Zimbabwean-Australian ecologist; was a lecturer at UZ 1969–1975

### Religion

* Robert Craig; Scottish Presbyterian minister and theologian; former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; Principal of UZ 1969–1980
* Adrian Hastings, Malaysian-British Roman Catholic priest, historian, and writer; professor of religious studies at UZ 1982–1985
* Rob Nairn, South African lawyer and Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author; taught law and criminology at UZ