Meet the Team
Dr. Casper Nyaradzai Kamutando
President
5Dr. Casper Nyaradzai Kamutando is a Senior lecturer and acting Chairperson in the Department of Plant Production Sciences and Technologies at the University of Zimbabwe. He holds a PhD in Genetics from the Center for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (University of Pretoria, South Africa), obtained in 2018, a Masters in Crop Science (Plant Breeding option: Distinction) and a BSc Honours Degree in Agriculture (Crop Science), both obtained from the University of Zimbabwe in 2015 and 2012, respectively. His research interests span across Plant breeding, Metagenomics, Microbial Ecology and Plant-microbe Interactions. Casper has so far contributed to more than 35 peer reviewed journal articles and two book chapters in his area of specialisation. Through his ambassadorial roles in the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) Ambassador program, Dr Kamutando founded the Microbial Ecology Research Network in Zimbabwe (MERNZ) in order to promote collaborative research and information sharing among microbial ecology enthusiast in Zimbabwe.
Dr. Kumbirai Ivyne Mateva
Vice President
Dr. Kumbirai Ivyne Mateva is a breeder and ecophysiologist contributing to crop improvement, genetic resource conservation, and sustainable agriculture. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Nottingham, Malaysia, an M.Sc. in Crop Breeding, and a B.Sc. in Natural Resources Management and Agriculture (Agronomy) from Midlands State University, Zimbabwe. Dr. Mateva began his career as a Research Intern with CIMMYT, contributing to the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa project. At ICRISAT, he served as a Research Associate, coordinating breeding activities and regional conservation of legume and cereal germplasm. Currently at Kutsaga Research, Dr. Mateva is pioneering Cannabis sativa L. breeding in Zimbabwe, focusing on fiber (textiles), grain (food), and cannabidiol flower lines (pharmaceutical industry). His work supports Zimbabwe’s crop diversification efforts. A fellow of the IRDR Young Scientists Programme, Dr. Mateva’s expertise spans breeding, metabolomics, phenomics, environmental plant physiology, and controlled environment research.
Ms. Ronica Mukaro
Secretary
Ms. Ronica Mukaro is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe with a Master’s degree in Crop Science majoring in Plant breeding. She has just submitted her thesis towards a PhD in Plant breeding at the University of KwaZulu Natal. She has vast experience in maize, soybean, and sunflower breeding. She is passionate about advancing new innovations and technologies for food and nutrition security as well as sustainable development. She is currently employed as a maize breeder with the Crop Breeding Institute in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
Dr. Hapson Mushoriwa
Treasurer
Dr. Hapson Mushoriwa holds a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding from University of KwaZulu Natal, a Master’s degree in Crop Science (Plant Breeding and Agronomy) as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration both from the University of Zimbabwe, and a BSc from Zimbabwe Open University. His major interest is in applying quantitative genetics to achieve continuous genetic enhancements particularly in legume crops. Hapson started off at the Crop Breeding Institute (CBI) in Zimbabwe where he contributed to the release of four soybean varieties. Still working with soyabean he joined Seed Co Research & Development in 2003, then Pannar Seed in South Africa in 2012, back to Seed Co in 2015, all in all contributing to the release of more than 10 improved soyabean varieties. In 2019 Hapson joined ICRISAT as a Regional Theme Lead and Pigeonpea Breeding Lead Scientist for ESA, He spearheaded the establishment of inclusive demand led breeding and testing pipelines across ICRISAT’s six mandate crops that uses cutting edge tools and technologies in collaboration with multidisciplinary experts within and outside ICRISAT. Currently he is the Head of Breeding for IITA based at Ibadan in Nigeria. Over the years he has effectively built and cultivated networks and partnerships with a broad range of institutions.
Committee Members
Alec Magaisa
Committee Member
Mr. Alec Magaisa is a Scientific Officer with ICRISAT involved in the design and implementation of field trials (Agronomy & Plant Breeding), also offering agricultural extension and advisory services including project management (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation). He has vast practical work experience in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Farmer Field Schools, Climate Smart Agriculture, Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture, Community Seed Production, Community Seed Banks, Farming as a Business, Crop-livestock farming systems, Designing and implementing of demonstration plots showcasing best practices, as well as Capacity building of project stakeholders through trainings, technical backstopping, and field visits. He has experience in project proposal writing responding to calls for funding, Budgetary Control, Monitoring and Evaluation of projects, as well as Tracking and documentation of project impact. Alec’s research interests are around plant adaptation to abiotic stressors based on plant root system architecture and plant-rhizosphere microbiome interactions. He strongly believes in participatory research approaches so that research products meet the needs and preferences of clients. Alec is currently doing his PhD studies with the University of Zimbabwe and holds an MSc in Crop Science and Crop Improvement from Midlands State University and a BSc Agriculture honours in Crop Science from the University of Zimbabwe.
Forward Makasi
Committee Member
Mr. Forward Makasi is a Technical Agronomist with CP Chemicals, before that he was a graduate trainee in the research and development department at Easiseeds. He is also studying for his MSc Plant Breeding and Biotechnology with the University of Zimbabwe, having graduated with a BSc from the same university. Forward is eager to learn and grow as a scientist.
Dr. Walter Chivasa
Committee Member
Dr. Walter Chivasa has more the 25 years of experience in the crop improvement/ seed sector having graduated with a PhD in remote sensing from the University of KwaZulu Natal, and an MBA, MPhil in Crop Science and BSc Agriculture Hons Crop Science from the University of Zimbabwe. He is an experienced seed systems specialist with a demonstrated history of working in international crop research and commercial seed industry settings. Skilled in seed systems work, including seed production research, seed marketing, and sales, developing strategic sales and marketing objectives, territory planning, seed road map formulation and go-to-market strategies, knowledge of African seed market structure and industry trends, crop research, agronomy, budgets formulation and control, and geospatial technology. Hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and managing crop variety evaluation, and seed business development in Africa. Currently he is the Maize Seed Systems Lead for Africa with CIMMYT having previously worked for Seed Co and ICRISAT.
Tinovonga Gonhi
Committee Member
Mr. Tinovonga Gonhi is a PhD candidate in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology at Makerere University in Uganda having graduated with an MSc in Crop Science (Plant Breeding option) and BSc Agriculture Hons. Crop Science both from the University of Zimbabwe. He is a recipient of DAAD scholarship from Germany for both his MSc and PhD studies. Tino is an enthusiastic crop scientist with research interests focusing on improving the productivity, sustainability (economic and environmental) and quality of agricultural production through scientific research and development. Also, he has interests in crop breeding and genetics, pathology, physiology, and agronomy and to be part of the next generation of scientists who will address critical issues related to the production of food, feed, fuel, fiber, and pharmaceutical crops. It is his desire to be associated with researches that are economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally responsible for sustainable development. Tino has experience and skills in practical plant breeding methods (conventional and modern), agronomy, and the use of data science to make useful deductions in breeding programs. Currently he is a Research Fellow in plant breeding at Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (MUAST), working on African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) that include but not limited to spider plant (nyevhe/ulude), amaranth (mowa/imbuya), black jack (mutsine/umhlavangubo), and cowpea (munyemba/dinawe). In his work he collects, characterize, develop, evaluate and release improved varieties of AIVs for commercial use in Zimbabwe. He is also leading the breeding program of “smart grains” at MUAST working on sorghum, pearl millet and chickpea.