Chairperson
Dr Samson Mhizha
Qualifications: BSc Hons Psychology, MPhil in Developmental Psychology, MSc Clinical Educational Psychology; DPhil Developmental Psychology. Future Africa, University of Pretoria, Post-Doctoral Fellow 2022-2024.
Chairperson's Statement
The Department was established in 1965 in then University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Over the years our focus has transformed in response to national needs and the thrust to be the reference point for psychology in Zimbabwe. Psychology relates to the ways in which the brain and the mind develop and change over the lifespan of an individual. We are a discipline also concerned with groups, troubled, distressed, and traumatized behaviours. In line with the positive psychology thrust, we are also shifting our focus from a preoccupation with what is wrong with us as people to harnessing positive human traits.
Apart from being a route to a professional career in helping professions, psychology is also a very strong research discipline. At UZ, offer comprehensive training in research. For this, all our students must have reasonable mathematics skills which will be required for the research methods and statistics courses. The Department of Psychology has a clear strategy to be ranked as one of top the departments of psychology in Africa through our research output.
The Department houses the most experienced psychologists in Zimbabwe. Our staff members publish in many areas. However, there is a strong focus on industrial/ organisational psychology, social psychology, health psychology, developmental psychology, and forensic psychology.
We are housed on the First floor of the Faculty of Social Studies on the eastern side.
Vision
The vision of the Department of Psychology is to be a leading center for psychological research and teaching in Zimbabwe and globally.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Psychology is to offer students a balanced and well-grounded curriculum in the science of psychology, including research methods, psychometrics, cognition, child development, adolescence, organizational psychology, personality, learning principles and clinical areas.