Gordon Chavunduka

Gordon Chavunduka
Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe
In office 1992–1996
Preceded by	Walter Kamba
Succeeded by	Graham Hill
Personal details
Born	16 August 1931 Southern Rhodesia
Died	11 January 2013(2013-01-11) (aged 81) Harare, Zimbabwe

Gordon Lloyd Chavunduka (c.16 August 1931 – 11 January 2013) was a Zimbabwean sociologist and traditional healer.

Biography

Chavunduka was an agricultural instructor until he resigned to begin a career in sociology. He then obtained a BA in sociology and social anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a MA in sociology from the Victoria University of Manchester, and a PhD in sociology from the University of London. He became a lecturer in sociology at the University of Rhodesia in 1966.

In 1969, he helped to form the National People's Union and became its first president. It disbanded in 1971 to help form the African National Council, and Chavunduka became its secretary-general. In 1976, he became the head of its research department.

He served as a member of Abel Muzorewa's delegation to the 1979 Lancaster House Conference that led to Zimbabwe's independence.^[1] He has published several books on traditional medicine.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

Prof. Chavunduka was Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe from 1992 to 1996.^[7] After his retirement from the university, he served as president of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association.^[8] He was a great influence to Christopher Chetsanga.

Death

Chavunduka died on 11 January 2013 at the age of 81 in Harare, after a short illness.^[9]

References

1. Martin, D.; Johnson, P. (1981). The struggle for Zimbabwe. Boston: Faber and Faber. p. 400. ISBN 978-0-85345-599-8.
2. Chavunduka, G. (1972). Interaction of folk and scientific beliefs in Shona medical practices. Ph.D. thesis, University of London.
3. Chavunduka, G. (1978). Traditional Healers and the Shona Patient. Gwelo: Mambo.
4. Last, M. L.; Chavunduka, G. (1988). The Professionalization of African Medicine: Ambiguities and Definitions. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 308. ISBN 978-0-7190-2252-4.
5. Chavunduka, G. (1994). Traditional medicine in modern Zimbabwe. Harare: University of Zimbabwe Publications. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-908307-40-1.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
6. Chavunduka, G. (1978). Traditional Healers and the Shona Patient. Harare: Mambo Press. p. 139. ASIN B0000EDYZT.
7. University of Zimbabwe. "About UZ". Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
8. "Holy Water Is Serious Business". The Zimbabwean. 2 January 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
9. "MDC-T senior official Professor Gordon Chavunduka, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe and president of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers' Association (ZINATHA) has died". nehandaradio.com. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.

Educational offices
Preceded by Walter Kamba	Vice–Chancellors and principals of the University of Zimbabwe 1992 – 1996	Succeeded by Graham Hill