By Faith Ndou
The Great Zimbabwe University Council has appointed Professor David Chikodzi (pictured) as the new Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation with effect from the 1st of August 2025.
According to a press statement in possession of The Midweek Watch Professor Chikodzi brings over 15 years of experience in higher education, research leadership and institutional innovation.
He holds a PhD in Geography and Environmental Science from the University of the Western Cape (2019), a Master’s in Environmental Policy and Planning (2007) and a B.A. Honours in Geography (2005) from the University of Zimbabwe.
He also completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of South Africa (2019–2022) and professional training in Project Management at the University of Pretoria (2021).
At GZU, Prof Chikodzi has served with distinction in various capacities including Lecturer, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Deputy Dean, and most recently, Acting Pro Vice Chancellor.
The statement notes that he has played a leading role in aligning academic programmes with Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 philosophy promoting curriculum reform, innovation in mining, engineering, data analytics and enhancing partnerships with government and industry.
He is also credited for spearheading strategic initiatives such as the National Centre of Excellence for Computational Intelligence and Actuarial Science, focused on industry driven innovation and product development.
As a researcher Professor Chikodzi has published over 100 peer reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters on topics such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, environmental management and sustainable development.
His co-authored book “Counting the Cost of COVID-19 on the Global Tourism Industry” (2020) is included in the World Health Organization’s recommended reading list.
Beyond academia, he has provided consultancy services to global organisations including the World Bank, FAO, UNDP, SADC and the African Capacity Building Foundation and supervised numerous postgraduate and international students.
Commenting on the appointment, GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Jonas Zvobgo said, “Professor Chikodzi’s appointment comes at a critical time in the university’s growth. His academic leadership, research excellence, and alignment with Education 5.0 will drive GZU’s mission of heritage-based education, innovation and industrialisation.”
