By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
The Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Council has appointed Professor David Chikodzi as the institution’s new Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation, effective August 2025.
Prof Chikodzi, a distinguished scholar and administrator with over 15 years of experience in higher education and research leadership, brings a wealth of expertise in 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 BA 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, Professor Chikodzi has served as Lecturer, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Deputy Dean, and most recently, Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor.
In his leadership, he has been instrumental in aligning academic programmes with Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 philosophy, driving curriculum reforms, and building partnerships with industry and government.
He spearheaded initiatives such as the National Centre of Excellence for Computational Intelligence and Actuarial Science, supporting innovation and industrialisation in mining and product development.
As a researcher, Professor Chikodzi has published over 100 peer-reviewed works in areas including climate change, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and environmental management.
His co-authored book Counting the Cost of COVID-19 on the Global Tourism Industry (Springer, 2022) is among literature recommended by the World Health Organisation. His scholarship has attracted more than 2,600 citations.
Beyond academia, he has provided consultancy services for international organisations such as the World Bank, FAO, SADC, UNIDEP, and the African Capacity Building Foundation.
The Vice Chancellor of GZU Professor Rungano Jonas Zvobgo, in a statement said: “Professor Chikodzi’s appointment comes at a pivotal time in the university’s growth. His academic leadership, research excellence, and strong vision for Education 5.0 will drive GZU’s mission of heritage-based education, innovation, and industrialisation.”
The GZU Council, management, staff, and students have congratulated Prof Chikodzi, wishing him success in his new portfolio.