Gordon Chavunduka Explained

Gordon Chavunduka
Office:Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe
Predecessor:Walter Kamba
Successor:Graham Hill
Termend:1996
Termstart:1992
Birth Date:16 August 1931
Birth Place:Southern Rhodesia
Death Place: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]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Martin, D. . Johnson, P.. The struggle for Zimbabwe . Faber and Faber . 1981 . Boston . 400 . 978-0-85345-599-8.
  2. Book: Chavunduka, G.. Gordon Chavunduka. Interaction of folk and scientific beliefs in Shona medical practices. . 1972. Ph.D. thesis, University of London.
  3. Book: Chavunduka, G.. Gordon Chavunduka. Traditional Healers and the Shona Patient. 1978. Gwelo. Mambo.
  4. Book: Last, M. L.. Chavunduka, G. . The Professionalization of African Medicine: Ambiguities and Definitions . Manchester University Press. 1988 . Manchester . 308. 978-0-7190-2252-4.
  5. Book: Chavunduka, G.. Gordon Chavunduka. Traditional medicine in modern Zimbabwe. University of Zimbabwe Publications. 1994. Harare. 115. 978-0-908307-40-1.
  6. Book: Chavunduka, G.. Gordon Chavunduka. Traditional Healers and the Shona Patient. Mambo Press. 1978 . Harare. 139. B0000EDYZT.
  7. Web site: University of Zimbabwe. University of Zimbabwe. About UZ. 2009-01-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081212230253/http://www.uz.ac.zw/information/uz.html. 2008-12-12.
  8. News: Holy Water Is Serious Business. 2 January 2009. The Zimbabwean. 2009-01-04. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100923161530/http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content. 23 September 2010.
  9. Web site: 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. 2013-01-11. 2013-01-13.