Our Team.

Our Goals

Our overall goal is to encourage, and advocate for active healthy living for Zimbabwe’s children and youth. We specifically aim to achieve this goal by:

Building research capacity, targeted training, and ongoing engagement in the area of physical activity promotion.
Collecting and synthesising research data, relevant policy documents and/or dissertations about key indicators of physical activity in children and youth.
Partnering relevant authorities, to create and disseminate simple public health messages encouraging Zimbabwean children’s mass participation in physical activity.
Partnering the relevant Ministries to prioritize the development of evidence-informed National Physical Activity Guidelines.
Committing to developing and producing the Report Card and join the international community in participating at future Global Summits on physical activity among children and youth.
Cultivating and establishing enduring links and relationships between AHKZ and like-minded local or international partners.
Linking academic institutions, corporate industry, non-profit organizations and Government entities in a collective effort to promote active healthy living among children and youth in Zimbabwe.

DAGA MAKAZA PH.D

Dr. Daga Makaza is a lecturer in the Department of Sports Science and Coaching, Faculty of Applied Science at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Zimbabwe. He is the coordinator of the Health and Wellness Research Group under the Research and Innovation Department at NUST. He has been the project leader for two major national surveys on youth and children (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey: Olympism in Zimbabwe, 2012 and the Zimbabwe Nestle Healthy Kids Survey, 2015). Daga is also an external examiner of physical education at teachers’ colleges in Zimbabwe focusing on curriculum review, question paper moderation, academic and practical examinations. He has contributed on the Physical Education syllabus development national panel for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education from 2017 to date. Dr. Makaza is an active member of the Global Forum for Physical education Pedagogy (GoFPEP). He has reviewed physical education modules for the Department of Teacher Education (DTE), University of Zimbabwe. He is currently co-leading Active Healthy Kids Zimbabwe (AHKZ). His research interests include Nutrition and Physical Activity, Kinanthropometry, and ICT Pedagogy. Dr. Makaza has published in peer-reviewed journals and has presented at several local and international conferences.

Taru Manyanga Ph.D

Taru Manyanga (co-leader of Active Healthy Kids Zimbabwe), is an Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Northern British Columbia and a registered physiotherapist with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia. Taru holds a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation-Physical Therapy, and an MSc in Community Health Sciences from the University of Manitoba as well as a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Ottawa. Taru’s research interests include exploring geographical and cultural differences in relationships among physical behaviors (sleep, sedentary time, physical activity) and health outcomes. Taru is also interested in expanding his research from only apparently healthy children and adolescents to include clinical populations, especially those with musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory disorders. Taru is a member of many organizations including but not limited to: College of Physical Therapist of British Columbia, the Canadian Physiotherapists Association, Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, Active Healthy Kids Zimbabwe, the African Physical Activity Network, Sedentary Behavior Research Network, Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research, Outdoor Play Canada, and the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program.

Carol Mahachi

Carol Mahachi is employed at the University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences as a lecturer in Physiology based in the Department of Physiology. She is currently a PhD student with Stellenbosch University in South Africa looking at Inflammation in HIV positive patients with Kidney Disease. She has a BSc Degree in Nutrition Sciences and an MPhil in Medicine (Physiology) both with the University of Zimbabwe. Carol has 18 publications of which 13 are on the public domain and several abstracts presented at several conferences including Physiology Society of Southern Africa, International Brain Research Organization School and the Zimbabwean edition of the Annual Medical Research Day. Her research interests are in nutrition, inflammation, chronic non-communicable disease and exercise.

Tholumusa Mlalazi

Tholumusa Favoured Mlalazi “Tholu” is a Future Leader Volunteer (FLV) for The Foundation for Global Community Health (GCH) which develops best practices regarding school-based well-being programs. Tholu is the founder of the “Walk for Life Programme” a community oriented programme dedicated to promote physical activity and health in an environmentally friendly atmosphere for Bulawayo residents. He worked for the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe between 2007 and 2017 as Teaching Assistant in The Department of Sports Science and Coaching. Tholu graduated with Licentiate in Physical Education and Sports, Post Graduate Certificates in Biological Fundamentals of Health Promotion in Physical Education & Sports and Therapeutic Massage from Escuela Internacional de Educación Física Y Deportes (EIEFD la Habana, Cuba) in 2006.

Dr Paul Makoni

Dr Paul Makoni from NUST has attended an advanced course on research methodology at the then Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory and has 10 years of research experience. From 1997- 2003, he was a Medical Researcher in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (Zimbabwe). He lectured full-time to undergraduate and postgraduate students at Midlands State University (Zimbabwe) from 2004-2007. He has also done part-time lecturing to undergraduate students at the National University of Science and Technology (Zimbabwe) from 2007-2011. From July 2007 he has been employed as the Chief Research Officer in the Research and Innovation Office at NUST. His job entails research skills development of academics. He has run regional and international courses on research methodology over the past ten (10) years, with support from several international organizations. He has researched and published widely on tropical diseases. He has been involved in several types of research ranging from kinanthropometry and the health status of Zimbabwean school children.

Nyaradzai Dangarembizi-Munambah

Nyaradzai is an occupational therapist by profession and a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe. She holds a BSc in Occupational therapy and University of Zimbabwe and a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 2014. Currently, Nyaradzai is working on her PhD (Registered with University of Cape Town) which seeks to understand play and to explore how play can be used as a resource to promote health and wellbeing in children in low resourced settings. In the health education field, she is a graduate of the Health Education Advanced Leadership in Zimbabwe (HEALZ) programme at University of Zimbabwe. Nyaradzai is a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) technical group on the development of guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviours and sleep in children less than 5 years of age (2017-2018). Currently, she is involved in the International surveillance study on movement behaviors (Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors and Sleep), of children aged 4 years old in Zimbabwe.

Mr Mandaza Dzikamayi

Mr Mandaza is a Physical Education and Sport Curriculum developer with the Curriculum Development and Technical Services department of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Zimbabwe. He is a coach for Mashonaland Junior Golf Association. He works in the development of junior golfers. He is a former Sport and Recreation Officer for Harare Metropolitan Province of Harare. He spearheaded the development of the New Zimbabwean Primary and Secondary Education Curriculum 2015-2022, working under the secretariat of the Technical Working Group. He also led the creation of the new Physical Education and Sport Curriculum for Zimbabwe education system. He has a Bachelor of Science (Honors) Degree in Physical Education and Sport from Zimbabwe Open University. His diploma in education training was from Masvingo Teachers College.

SIPHO HELENI RUTSATE

Mrs. Rutsate is the current chair of the department of Sport Science and Coaching at the National University of Science and Technology. She is undertaking a PhD in Exercise Physiology (Research Topic : Increasing Non Communicable Disease burden in Zimbabwe’s Workforce: Could Health Risk Appraisal be the Solution?) Sipho holds Post Graduate Diplomas in Human Nutrition and Functional Foods, Gent University, Belgium and Massage Therapy, National Sports Academy, Bulgaria. She has an MSc in Adapted Physical Activity, Katholieke University, Belgium; and another MSc in Sport Science and Coaching, National University of Science and Technology &National Sports Academy Bulgaria and a Bachelor of Arts, Human Movement Studies and Industrial Psychology, Rhodes University, South Africa. Mrs Rutsate trained as a Physical Education Teacher at the Teacher’s College, Bulawayo. She is also a trained Systemic Counselling Therapist. Her research interests include: Improved Capacity in Sport Performance, Childhood Obesity, Effects of Indigenous Knowledge Systems of Nutrition and Traditional Games in the reduction of overweight and Obesity, Non-Communicable Diseases, Health Risk Appraisal, Sexual harassment in Sport, Physical Activity for different Communities

Dr. Tonderayi M. Matsungo

Tonderayi “Tonde” Matsungo is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences, (DNDFS) at the University of Zimbabwe. He holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition
from North-West University (RSA), M.Phil. in Human Physiology, and a BSc in Nutrition (University of Zimbabwe). Tonde is the Southern Africa Representative for Africa Nutrition Society (ANS) and current President of the Zimbabwe Nutrition Association (Zim). Dr. Matsungo is the National Convener for the Scaling Up Nutrition Research and Academia Platform (SUNRAP) Zimbabwe and a member of the Active Healthy Kids Zimbabwe (AHKZ) Report Card Working Group. He is passionate about capacity and leadership development for nutrition and health practitioners in Africa and globally. He advises government departments, UN agencies, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) on food security and nutrition issues. His current research focuses on nutrition for school-age children and adolescents, nutrition-sensitive agriculture “biofortification”, behavior change
interventions, micronutrient “point of use” supplements, and other stunting prevention strategies. Dr. Matsungo has experience in testing the efficacy and effectiveness of nutritional supplements in community-based randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Tonde is an Alumnus [2008] of the African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP). He has published in peer-reviewed nutrition journals.

Bhekuzulu Khumalo

Bhekuzulu is based at the National University of Science and Technology, Sports Science and Coaching Department. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Sports and an MSc in Adapted Physical Activity (EMMAPA) (Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy) Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. In 2017, Dr. Khumalo completed his Ph.D. from the School of Health Sciences, at the University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. His research interests include the measurement of Physical Competence (fundamental movement skills, physical fitness), Physical Activity patterns and sports participation trends amongst people with disabilities and children. Bhekuzulu is a self-driven accomplished sports coach and administrator who specialises in track and field and Paralympic Sports. He is a member of International Association of Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK), South Africa Sports Medicine Association (SASMA), International Association of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA), Zimbabwe Paralympic Committee (ZPC), Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI), International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Coach Education and Certification System (CECS) and National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ)

MATILDA MUKARO

CAROLINE C MAVINGIRE

Caroline C. Mavingire is a lecturer at the Bindura University of Science Education in Zimbabwe. Caroline is a Ph.D. student in Human Movement Science at northwest University in South Africa. Caroline
holds an MSc in Sports Science from Northwest University, a BSc Hons (Sports Science and Coaching) from the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe, and a BA Hons (History) from the University of Zimbabwe. Caroline is a Level 2 Kinanthropometrist. Caroline has a passion for community work and ran a gym at the Holiday Inn Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) from 2010- 2016. Caroline was involved in the data collection, saliva sample analysis, and data capture for the BCIT (Body Composition by Stable Isotope) study in South Africa (2017-2019). Caroline’s research interests include physical activity, body composition, physical fitness, sedentary behavior, and their
impact on quality of life.

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