INSTITUTE STAFF PROFILES:

Victor Mundembe (Acting Director)

Mr Mundembe holds an BSc Gen (Maths, Physics) (UZ) and a BSc Hon Physics (UZ). He has been with SIRDC for 11 years. In his new role at the Energy Technology Institute (ETI), Mr Mundembe is widely involved with energy efficiency and management projects in the industrial, mining, commercial and public sectors. He is developing expertise in conducting energy audits, planning, designing and implementation of projects that ensures sustainable and effective utilization of energy in all sectors of the economy. With his Energy Team, Mr Mundembe is also developing and running energy management training courses and is collaborating with various stakeholders in the energy field.

Before joining ETI, Mr Mundembe was with the National Metrology Institute (NMI) and he received professional training in Temperature Metrology, Humidity Metrology, Laboratory Systems and Technical Assessor. Core skills acquired include, precision measurements, calibrations and process optimisation through systematic investigations and applied physics. Mr Mundembe is the key resource person for delivering training courses in Temperature Metrology, Humidity Metrology and Measurement Uncertainty in Zimbabwe. Mr Mundembe is a certified and competent Internal Auditor in ISO 17025 laboratory management system. He also participates in national, regional and international metrology and related activities. He is currently Vice Chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the SADC Resource Centre for Metrology Education (SRCME) and a board member of the SRCME. Mr Mundembe is also a member of the Working Group on Thermometry (WG-T) under the SADC Corporation in Measurement Traceability (SADCMET). He is a member of the Technical Committee on harmonised legislation in the SADC SQAM programme. Mr Mundembe is a member of the National Task Force of the COMESA Standardisation, Quality, Metrology and Testing (SQMT) Programme and a member of the National Steering Committee overseeing the formation of the national accreditation body, Zimbabwe National Accreditation Service (ZINAS).

Mr Mundembe also has additional responsibilities of heading the Quality Assurance Department of the National Metrology Institute whose Mass Metrology Laboratory is poised to attain ISO 17025 Accreditation with South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). He has published papers in the Journal of Applied Sciences in Southern Africa (JASSA), Journal of Physics, Malaysia, and the SIRDC Technology Monitor.

Before joining SIRDC, Mr Mundembe was with the University of Zimbabwe as a Teaching Assistant in the Physics Department.

Dr Manny Mathuthu (Principal Scientist)

Dr Manny Mathuthu is a Nuclear Physicist with a PhD in Physics, BSc Hons in Physics and BSc Gen (Maths, Physics) from the University of Zimbabwe. He received extensive training in Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Fusion. He is responsible for providing guidance and mentorship to other scientists at SIRDC.

Professional Training:
Neutron Activation Analysis, North Carolina State University, Sept 2008 to May 2009.
• Gamma Spectroscopy, Radiation Safety & Control, Reactor Startup & Shutdown
• Control Rod Calibration & Neutron Detector Calibration
• Power Defect Measurement & Neutron Flux Measurements

Nuclear Power Plant Simulators for Education, ICTP, Italy, Oct 2007 and Oct 2000
• Reactor operation, Steam and Power Generation Control
• LOCA & Reactor Scram, Core Xenon Poisoning & Control

Laser Spectroscopy, Lund University, Sweden, April to June 2001
• Photodynamic Therapy
• Laser Fluorescence

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), National Laser Centre, RSA, July 2005 to Mar 2006.

Awards & Honors
• Fulbright African Scholarship, Sept 2008
• National Laser Centre, RSA, June 2006
• Asian African Association on Plasma Training, China, April 1997
• Asian African Association on Plasma Training, Egypt, June 1993
• Third World Academy of Sciences Equipment Grant, Sept 1994 & 2003

Chipo Shonhiwa (Research Scientist)

Ms Chipo Shonhiwa holds an MSc in Renewable Energy and a BSc Hons in Physics from the University of Zimbabwe. She is currently undergoing post-graduate training in Nuclear Energy. Her areas of interest are:
• Solar Water Heating Systems
• Bio-energy

Joseph Hwani (Research Scientist)

Mr Hwani holds an MSc in Renewable Energy and a BSc in Physics and Maths from the University of Zimbabwe. His duties and responsibilities include
• Energy Audits and formulation of Energy Management Programmes for companies
• Boiler efficiency and emission tests
• Designing and installation of Renewable Energy Technologies
• Offering training courses on Renewable Energy Technologies

Mr Hwani’s areas of interest also extend to Fuel Cell Technology, Bio-energy and Energy Management. He received the Bolbec Science Education Book Price at UZ in 2003.

Benson Zeyi (Research Scientist)

Mr Zeyi holds an MSc in Renewable Energy from UZ and a BSc Hons in Physics from the National University of Science & Technology (NUST).
His duties and responsibilities include
• Design of Renewable Energy Systems such as solar driers, solar home systems, solar pumping systems, solar cookers and woodstove improvements
• Carrying out energy audits, emission and efficiency tests on boilers, air heaters, vehicles and generators.

Mr Zeys’s areas of interest are Renewable Energy and Energy Management.

Clemence Kamutero (Research Technician)
Mr. Kamutero holds a National Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering obtained with HEXCO and a City and Guilds certificate in Electrical Power Engineering. He is working in the ETI as a Research Technician. Mr. Kamutero specialized in Electrical Power Engineering (Heavy current systems) installation and maintenance, having had more than 10 years experience in the mining and manufacturing industries. Having joined the institute in ….., he is the longest serving member of the institute and boasts a wealth of experience in all activities of the institute and in particular the electrical based energy services and products.

Tonderai Chikuruwo (Research Technician)
Mr. Chikuruwo is a holder of a diploma in Telecommunication Systems and is with the Institute as an Electronics Technician. He has specialised in electronic systems design, diagnosis and repair. Principal areas are design and implementation of electronic circuitry for energy related projects.

Pauline Nyamayaro (Institute Secretary)
Ms Nyamayaro is a holder of a Diploma in Secretarial and Office Administration from Institute of Secretarial and Office Administration (ISOA). She has the following qualities:

• Four years of progressive secretarial experience resulting in all round experience in the trade.
• Highly experienced in developing effective filing systems, attractive office deco, handling busy switchboards, special events management and supervising support staff
• Exellent interpersonal skills.
• Imaginative, proactive, an eye for beauty, and an impeccable ability to communicate effectively at all levels within and outside an organisation
• Computer literate in widely used computer software.