His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chancellor of the Harare Institute of Technology, Cde R.G. Mugabe has approved the appointment of Dr Maxwell Chanakira as the Pro Vice Chancellor of the Harare Institute of Technology. The appointment is effective 1 January 2017.
Prior to his appointment, he served as the Acting Director of the Technopreneurship Development Centre at HIT.
Dr. Chanakira is an Electrical Engineer, holding the City and Guilds (London) Full Technological Certificate in Telecommunications, a B. Tech degree in Electrical Engineering and a Post Graduate Certificate in Digital Telecommunications Technology, (AOTS, Japan). He also earned an MBA from the Management College of Southern Africa, South Africa in 2005 and a Doctor of Technology degree in Organisational Leadership from the Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa, which he attained in 2009.
A proven industry practitioner and academic in the areas of Telecommunications Engineering, Organizational Leadership and Strategy, Dr. Chanakira's career spans over thirty years. His first appointment was in 1985; with the Zimbabwe Posts and Telecommunications Corporation as a Telecommunications Technician. He rose through the ranks becoming a Chief Telecommunications Technician, Area Manager and was later appointed Manager - Access Network CBD East Harare,- a post equivalent to that of Regional Manager. After leaving the PTC, Dr. Chanakira became the Project Manager for the Telecommunications Network Rehabilitation in Lesotho. In 2005, Dr. Chanakira was appointed a Lecturer in Strategic Management, MIS and Operations Management at the Management College of Southern Africa,- with subsequent appointments at the Regent Business School and Tshwane University of Technology Business School.
In March 2010, Dr. Chanakira joined the Harare Institute of Technology as a Lecturer. He has taught courses in the areas of Technoprenuership, Innovation, Business Leadership and Strategy. He has published and presented over 25 papers in the areas of strategy, innovation, incubation, and commercialisation of technology, including five book chapters. He has also reviewed several international journals in Europe and the United States and is an external examiner of PhD theses for several local institutions.
He has distinguished himself in institutional advancement and has garnered financial support and partnerships for the Institute over the years. In the area of community service, Dr Chanakira has served on local boards in varying capacities. He was a Deputy Board Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Msasa Industrial and Training College (MITC). He also serves as Chairperson of the National Manpower Advisory Council (NAMACO) Technical Committee on Public Private Partnerships.
Dr Chanakira was born on 9 October 1967 and is married to Edinah,- with three sons: Benedict, Victor and Wisdom.