Rungano Jonas Zvobgo Explained

Professor Rungano Jonas Zvobgo (born 1948) is the Vice Chancellor of Great Zimbabwe University in Zimbabwe.^[1] His second term ends in 2022.^[2] Prior to this position, Professor Zvobgo had been Principal of Gweru Teacher's College and subsequently the first deputy vice chancellor of Midlands State University. Professor Zvobgo is also a representative of the southern region for the Association of African Universities (AAU).^[3]

Background

Professor Zvobgo comes from one of Zimbabwe's most illustrious families. His most famous brother, Dr Eddison Zvobgo, was a founding member of ZANU,^[4] and his other brother, Professor Chengetayi Zvobgo, was a renowned historian at the University of Zimbabwe.^[5] Both brothers are now late.^{[6] [7]} Their father was a prominent leader in the Dutch Reformed Church in the Masvingo area.

Career

Being a member of a political member meant that the younger Zvobgo, like his older brothers, lived in exile in the 1970s. He first studied in India, and eventually obtained a PhD in Educational Studies from the University of Edinburgh in 1980 presenting the thesis Government and missionary policies on African secondary education in Southern Rhodesia: with special reference to the Anglican and Wesleyan Methodist churches, 1934-1971.^[8] He then returned to Zimbabwe after independence and worked at various institutions of higher education. When Gweru Teacher's College where he presided over as Principal was upgraded into a state university he became a member of the founding executive as deputy vice chancellor. Zvobgo is a renowned educationist.^[9]

Publications

• Transforming Education: The Zimbabwean Experience (College Press, 1986)^[10]
• Colonialism and Education in Zimbabwe (SAPES, 1994)
• The State, Ideology and Education (Mambo Press, 1997)
• The Post-colonial State and Educational Reform (ZPH, 1999)
• Contextualising the Curriculum: The Zimbabwean Experience (College Press, 2007)^[11]

References

1. News: Dzobo. Abel. Teamwork pays off at Great Zimbabwe University. 2021-10-31. The Sunday Mail. en-ZW.
2. News: George . Maponga. President extends Zvobgo's tenure at GZU. 2021-10-31. The Herald. en-ZW.
3. Web site: New AAU leadership wants to increase its membership. 2021-10-31. University World News.
4. Web site: Eddison Zvobgo and the struggle for Zimbabwe. 2021-10-31. africasacountry.com. 27 February 2018 . en-US.
5. Bhebe. Ngwabi. 2020-12-30. Obituary for Professor Chengetai Zvobgo. Southern Journal for Contemporary History. en. 45. 2. 194–195. 10.18820/24150509/SJCH45.v2.11. 242898232. 2415-0509. free.
6. Web site: 2004-08-23. Obituary: Eddison Zvobgo. 2021-10-31. the Guardian. en.
7. Web site: Professor Chengetai Zvobgo dies – DailyNews. 2021-10-31. dailynews.co.zw.
8. Zvobgo . Rungano Jonas . Government and missionary policies on African secondary education in Southern Rhodesia: with special reference to the Anglican and Wesleyan Methodist churches, 1934-1971 . 1980 . PhD . The University of Edinburgh . 1842/7185.
9. AAU Talks: Reforms in Higher Education in Africa . en . 2021-10-31 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211031/ykwkj44fdkg . 2021-10-31 . live . YouTube.
10. Web site: Transforming Education. 2021-10-31. readingzimbabwe.com. en.
11. Book: Zvobgo, Rugano Jonas. Contextualising the Curriculum: The Zimbabwean Experience. 2007. College Press. 978-1-77900-505-2. en.