Tendai Gukuta, a third year HIT student studying for a Bachelor of Technology Honours Degree in Biotechnology has been appointed the Southern Africa Network for Biosciences (SANBiO) Student Ambassador for Zimbabwe.
Gukuta is currently on attachment at the Tobacco Research Board and was appointed the new SANBio Student Ambassador for Zimbabwe on 26 February in Pretoria at the SANBio Annual event where she also attended a summer school from 25-26 February 2018.
"I am pleased to be appointed the Southern Africa Network for Biosciences (SANBio) Student Ambassador for Zimbabwe. I have since started working with the National Biotechnogy Authority who are the Zimbabwe Partners with SANBio and we have come up with various programmes and competitions to promote students in biosciences, health and nutrition. I will work very hard to spread the message of biological sciences and to be a good ambassador for Zimbabwe and HIT. I would like to thank HIT for building me up as a biotechnology student and an outstanding individual," said Tendai.
In his congratulatory message, HIT Vice Chancellor Eng. Q.C Kanhukamwe said, "Let me take this opportunity on behalf of the HIT Board, Senior Management, the members of staff and students and on my own behalf to congratulate you on this great achievement and appointment as SANBio student Ambassador for Zimbabwe. We wish you the very best during your tenure and are confident that you will discharge your role in a dignified and professional manner," he said.
Southern African Network of Biosciences, SANBio, is an African Union-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AU/NEPAD) collaborative research, development and innovation platform aimed at addressing Southern Africa's challenges in health and nutrition. Membership within the SANBio network provides opportunities for research and development through collaborative networking. It also aligns stakeholders to streams of funding opportunities through various grant opportunities.
Gukuta becomes the second HIT student from the Department of Biotechnology to be appointed to this post.