Shock as AU Vice-Chancellor dies
AFRICA University’s fourth Vice Chancellor, Professor Munashe Furusa, who died in Mutare on Wednesday was laid to rest at his family home in Shurugwi yesterday (Thursday).
The university’s public affairs director, Mr Stephen Chikozho, said Prof Furusa’s funeral was private.
“Prof Furusa joined Africa University in July 2014 as its fourth Vice Chancellor and immediately began focusing on high-impact learning, the student experience, excellence, innovation and accountability. He led students, faculty and staff with vision, empathy and great energy in ensuring that Africa University offered a broadly accessible, high-quality education that equipped leaders with the skills and desire to help fashion a more humane, just and sustainable world.
“As we mourn a great leader who inspired, motivated and moved all of us to become the best versions of ourselves, we cherish the memories, transformative work, and powerful moments we were honoured to share with him,” said Mr Chikozho.
In an earlier statement, AU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Peter Mageto, said: “As we mourn a great leader who inspired, motivated and moved all of us to become the best versions of ourselves, we cherish the memories, transformative work and powerful moments that we were honoured to share with him.”
Prof Furusa who is survived by his wife, Dr Zanele Furusa, four children and two grandchildren held a Doctor of Philosophy degree in African Literature and Critical Theory, a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts Honours in English, all from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as a Diploma in Education from Bondolfi
Teachers College in Masvingo.
He was a first generation college student and the first in his family to earn a master’s and a doctoral degree.
He joined Africa University in 2014 and under his leadership, the university experienced dramatic transformation including the comprehensive restructuring of its seven teaching units into three colleges.
This leaner structure immediately yielded positive results that saw the university winning major research grants and being ranked second best in the country as well as receiving numerous national and continental awards for excellence in the higher education sector.
Prof Furusa also successfully established public/private partnerships that provided incredible internships and job opportunities for students and the business enterprise development arm of the university.
One of his guiding principles in leadership of the institution was led by a student centred approach where in
allowing the future leaders of Africa to experience world class service , teaching and research, their ability to dream and eventually realise a truly emancipated, just and prosperous Africa for all would be all the more refined and focused.
In its condolence message, Higherlife Foundation said: “Prof Furusa was a shining beacon of excellence in the academic fraternity and his passing on is a great loss to the educational sector and our nation Zimbabwe. We remember fondly the support that he provided to our organisation and community over the years, most recently sharing his ideas and intellect on the future of education during our Catalysing Vision 2050 Webinar series.”