Lecturer

Mr Willoughby Zimunya

Qualifications: MSc RUP. BSc HRUP

Cell:+263 772 731 971

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Autobiography

Mr Zimunya is an Urban and Regional Planner by profession and a Corporate Member of the Zimbabwe Institute of Urban and Regional Planners. He has taught in the Rural and Urban Planning, and Urban Development at the University of Zimbabwe and Great Zimbabwe University. He is a recipient of the DAAD in-country scholarship. Mr Zimunya is also a doctoral student in Regional and Urban Planning at the University of the Free State, South Africa. In addition, he has nineteen (19) years of professional planning practice experience in Rural and Urban Planning and Development fields in non-governmental, local and central government setups with concentration in land use plan preparation, development management, urban development projects, urban policy formulation and management, project planning and management as well planning administration.

Research Interests

Spatial Planning, Urban Policy and Management, Development Planning and Housing.

Publications and research Profile

Community Service

Demography Settlement and Development (DSD) Chairman of the Examinations Committee

DSD Library Committee Member

DSD Curriculum and Policy Development and Quality Assurance Committee Member

DSD Higher Degrees and Research and Innovation Committee Member

Member of the Manicaland Provincial Team for the 2012 National Census

Councilor for the Odzi Sub-catchment Council under the Save Catchment Council (2015-2016).

Board Member of the Manicaland Agricultural Society 2015-2016

Committee Member of the Gimboki South Housing Scheme Management Committee (2016).

Innovation

He was involved in the use of hotspot mapping to examine places of vulnerable to high crimes rates, high disease outbreaks, high intensity of informality and environmental ecosystems vulnerabilities in Harare city. These projects demonstrated the opportunities for applying geo-spatial tools and techniques in addressing issues affecting communities through building urban resilience.

Industrialisation

A member of Planning Team from University of Zimbabwe in the preparation of Tugwi-Mukosi and New City Master Plans.

 A member of a team that implemented Hotspot Mapping Project for Urban Resilience in Harare This project involved conducting simplified hotspot mapping to examine places that are characterised by high socio-economic vulnerability, areas with high intensity of informality, high diseases outbreak and environmental ecosystems vulnerabilities in Harare city. This is a pilot project that is meant to build capacity of local authorities in resilience planning and building. The project is being implemented by the University, UNDP and Min of Local Government and Public Works. The project has potential to be scaled up with the University offering consultancy services to local authorities and other organisations.

Contributed to the development of two degrees in Real Estate Management. This has seen an introduction of a new Faculty, that is, The Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment and a also a new Department of Architecture and Real Estate.