RESEARCH BOARD 2015
ABOUT THE RESEARCH BOARD
The Research Board at WUA is representative of academic staff in the various faculties. It reports to the Pro-Vice Chancellor and the Research Committee of the University Council. The Research Board is responsible for general oversight of research matters and for stimulating the development of research within the University. The generation of new knowledge and innovation is a fundamental pillar of the University’s strategic contribution towards the production of highly skilled manpower which is globally competitive, locally relevant and gender sensitive.
Functions
The core function of the Research Board is to increase the quality of scholarship, research and elevate the reputation of WUA through a number of activities which include the following:
- Management of research activities, that is, the appraisal of faculty research proposals and disbursement of resources supporting the research;
- The creation and management of a research database;
- Facilitating the development of faculty capacity to carry out research and to attract research funds through training;
- Mobilizing funds for supporting research and innovation;
- Disseminating research outputs through the publication of the WUA Journal and annually exhibiting at national Research and Intellectual Expos and other intellectual symposia.
Membership
The Research Board is composed of ex-officio and elected/appointed representatives of academic staff as highlighted below.
Ex-officio members
- Pro-Vice Chancellor
- Deans of Faculties
- Finance Director or Finance Department Representative
- All Ph.D. holders
The profiles of academic staff in the Research Board are as follows:
Research Board Chair: Dr Tendai Nhenga-Chakarisa

Dr Chakarisa is the Coordinator for the Child Sensitive Social Policies Programme, the Editorial Board Chair and the Research Board Chair of the Women’s University in Africa. She holds the following qualifications: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D Public Law-Child Rights) degree (Awarded with distinction) University of Cape Town; Master of Laws (LLM -Human Rights Law degree- University of Cape Town; Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) degree -National University of Lesotho; Bachelor of Arts in Law (B.A. Law) degree-National University of Lesotho; and Diploma in Mass Communication (Print Journalism) - Harare Polytechnic College. Her expertise extends to International law; human rights law; child rights law; food and nutrition security & legal drafting. She sits on the following Boards: Childline Zimbabwe; the African Institute for Migrant Workers’ (South Africa); and Non‐profit Empowerment Service Uplifting Widows and Orphans (NESUWO) (South Africa/Zimbabwe). Dr Nhenga-Chakarisa has served as a member of the South African Civil Society Working Group for the Development of a Civil Society report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Union Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (AUCERWC). She is also a Member of the Codesria Research Network; Child Watch International Network; Southern African Network for Child Indicators. She is currently the Chair of the Steering Committee of the African Union Model Summit 2015; the International Child Sensitive Social Policies Conference (2014 and 2015). In 2012 she was appointed a member of the Steering Committee for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Africa Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa and the Chair of Track Three on Disaster and Risk Mitigation at the same Conference.
Vice Chairperson: Dr Solomon Mombeshora

Board Member: Mr. Takunda Chabata

Takunda Chabata holds a Master of Science degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology, and a B. Sc Honours degree in Sociology from the University of Zimbabwe. He is currently pursuing Doctoral Studies with Rhodes University in South Africa. He is the Interim Secretary of the Research Board and he is currently lecturing in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Gender Development Studies, WUA. Mr. Chabata is the Programme Coordinator for Sociology. His research interests include livelihoods, gender and community development and natural resource management.
Board Member: Mrs. Phoebe Kashora

Mrs. Phoebe Kashora is a Research Board member representing the Faculty of Social Sciences and Gender Development Studies. She holds a Masters degree and a Diploma in Adult Education from the University of Zimbabwe and a Bachelor of Arts General degree in English and History and a Diploma in Education from Fourah Bay College from the University of Sierra Leone. Mrs. Kashora began her professional career as a teacher educator at Morgan ZINTEC in Harare where she trained primary school teachers how to teach English from 1981 to 2002. She served as a head of division for many years at Morgan ZINTEC. From 2003 to 2005 she was a lecturer in the Department of Adult Education, University of Swaziland where she taught Rural Development, Gender and Human Communication. She joined the Faculty of Social Sciences and Gender Development Studies at WUA in 2007 where she is teaching communication skills. She has also lectured on a part-time basis at Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), Central Africa Correspondence College, Zimbabwe Staff College and Zimbabwe Police Staff College. Currently, she is studying towards a Ph.D. with the University of South Africa on Curriculum Evaluation of the Adult Education Degree Programme at Zimbabwe Staff College. In 2012, she co-authored two modules on academic and professional communication for ZOU in 2012, and she has co–published work on perceptions on the interplay of housemaids and nurseries on early child development (ECD); obligations, challenges and coping mechanisms for women in tertiary education; personality and learning preference interactions of women in tertiary education; and prospects and challenges of empowerment through information and communication technology (ICT).
Board Member: Dr. Eric S. M. S. Makura

Board Member: Mr. Godfrey B. Nyamushamba

Mr. Nyamushamba is a Research Board member representing the Faculty of Agriculture. He holds an M. Sc degree in Animal Science from the University of Zimbabwe (2010-2012), MBA degree from WUA (2007-2010) and a B. Sc (Hons) degree in Animal Science from WUA (2003-2006). Mr. Nyamushamba is a lecturer in Animal Science in the Faculty of Agriculture and he is the Agribusiness Management Programme Coordinator in the same Faculty. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal and his research is focusing on Animal Science and Genetics. His areas of research interest are: conservation of indigenous animal genetic resources; animal breeding; animal production; adaptation of animals to climate change and conservation of natural and artificial pastures.
Board Member: Dr. Silas Parowa Mangwende

Dr Silas Parowa Mangwende represents the Faculty of Management, Entrepreneurial Development Studies and Information Technology in the Research Board. He holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) and a B. Sc in Education (Mathematics and Statistics) from Cuba. He has published on the establishment of partnership between supermarkets and horticulture irrigation cooperatives in Zimbabwe and the cross-cultural entrepreneurship efficacy beliefs of rural and urban youth in Mashonaland Central Province Zimbabwe.
Board Member: Mr. Charles Chingombe

Mr Charles Chingombe is an alternate representative of the Faculty of Management, Entrepreneurial Development Studies and Information Technology in the Research Board. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and a B. Sc (Hons) degree in Economics (UZ). He holds a Chartered Institute of Secretaries qualification. Mr Chingombe was previously with the Catholic University in Mozambique.
Dr. Tadiwanashe Mangwengwende

Board Member: Dr Eve Musvosvi-Chandaengerwa
