POTRAZ ICT Research Journal (PICTRJ)

Professor Sam Takavarasha Jr is the POTRAZ ICT Research Journal's Editor-in-Chief and the Director Research Director of the Research Innovation Postgraduate Centre at Women’s University of Africa. Before that, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Entrepreneurial Sciences at Women’s University of Africa. He also worked as a senior lecturer in the Department of Information Systems after his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa, in the Department of Information Systems. Sam acquired his PhD in Information Systems at the University of Zimbabwe, where he led three research consultancy projects and championed Zimbabwe’s first e-learning virtual lecture project. He has also published many peer-reviewed academic papers and a book. His editorial experience includes being a special issue journal editor at the International Journal of Information Systems (IJISPM) and the Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC) and IEOM Journal.

Ms Fungai Nora Mukora is the Dean of the Faculty of Computer Engineering, Informatics, and Communications at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). She holds a master’s degree in computer science and is pursuing a PhD in Engineering. With over 15 years of experience, Fungai has significantly contributed to developing ICT education and digital transformation in Zimbabwe. Fungai holds leadership positions in the ICT Association of Zimbabwe and the POTRAZ ICT Journal Editorial Committee, and she serves on the board of Metbank. Her research interests include the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Digital Transformation, ICT Adoption, and the education needs of children during emergencies.

Engineer Freddy Gweme is a seasoned professional in the ICT industry. He currently serves as the Director of ICT at the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC) in Zimbabwe. His academic qualifications include a BSc (Eng) Hons, an MPhil in Computer Engineering, and an Executive MBA. With over two decades of experience, Eng F. Gweme has been instrumental in developing innovative ICT products and systems. His contributions to national e-waste management policy and his extensive publications in ICT underscore his expertise and influence in the field.

Professor Philimon Nyamugure holds a PhD in Operations Research, an MSc in Operations Research and Statistics, BSc (Hons) in Applied Mathematics, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education. He is the Executive Dean-Faculty of Applied Science at the National University of Science Technology. He is a former Fulbright Research Award for African Scholars recipient, during which he developed a Data Science and Analytics programme. His research interests include the development of optimisation algorithms, statistical surveys, big data analytics, and analysing non-deterministic polynomial challenging problems.

Professor Walter Matli is an associate professor at the University of South Africa Business School, specialising in ICT for Development (ICT4D). His research delves into critical issues such as the digital divide, ICT access and utilisation for development in African societies, remote working, AI in education and healthcare, digital work, and the challenges faced by young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). A strong advocate for harnessing technological advancements to drive Africa's development, Matli focuses on empowering disadvantaged communities, ensuring that rapid technological growth does not exacerbate societal inequalities.

Dr Gardner Mwansa is a Senior Lecturer at Walter Sisulu University in South Africa. He specialises in agile methodologies, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, and educational technology. His pioneering research focuses on integrating agile development with cloud environments to enhance adoption and utilisation in South Africa. Dr Mwansa’s ongoing projects explore secure and efficient IoT deployment in resource-constrained environments.

Professor Maxwell Sandada is a Professor of Business and Deputy Director of Research and Development at the Postal & Telecommunications Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), a distinguished scholar, global authority on Strategic Management and a technocrat with over seventeen (17) years of extensive experience including lecturing, research and publications, policy advisory and consultancy work in Strategy and Innovation. As an academic, he has supervised several Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees to successful completion and several other postgraduate students in the field of Business. He has examined numerous doctoral theses (Ph.Ds.) and published extensively in the field of Business Management. He is an external examiner of many institutions in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Gilford is currently the ICT Director at the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education. Before that, he was at the University of Zimbabwe as the Director of ICT and lectured in various Computer Science and Information Systems-related courses. He has experience leading teams that have successfully rolled out solutions involving infrastructure, systems, people, and processes. He is a researcher who has published internationally, regionally, and locally in several fields that include Database Systems, Data Analytics, the Internet of Things, Information Systems, the Use of ICTs in teaching & learning, and the Use of ICTs in business.