ZOPPA supported Rusitu Valley Fruit Growers and Marketing Trust to strengthen its readiness for the EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848. The assignment highlighted the importance of effective internal control systems, reliable traceability, strong farmer organisations and dependable markets in sustaining smallholder participation in organic value chains.
Tsitsi Murahwa CTP | CCP | Mcom | Bsc
Tsitsi is a qualified Human Resources practitioner with over 10 years’ experience spanning across insurance, energy, manufacturing and tourism industries.
Tsitsi holds a Master of Commerce in Strategic Management and Corporate Governance and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management (Honours) degree from Midlands State University. She also holds a Diploma in Human Resource Development from the Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Leadership with UNISA.
She is a Certified Talent Practitioner and a Certified Coach Practitioner who is passionate about organizational development and possesses excellent business acumen.
She sits on the Board of ZOPPA (Zimbabwe Organic Producers and Promoters Association) as a Trustee overseeing Human Resource Management issues.
Mutsa Maswaure CA(Z) RPACC (Z)
Mutsa is a qualified Chartered Accountant and completed her articles of clerkship with KPMG Chartered Accountants. Following completion of her articles, Mutsa spent over two years working for First Mutual Life Assurance, and two years in the banking and finance and tobacco sector.
Collectively, Mutsa has 10 years’ experience in the accounting and auditing field in which her experience ranges from banking, insurance and the tobacco industry and possesses a Certificate of Competence in Project Management. She sits on the Board of ZOPPA (Zimbabwe Organic Producers and Promoters Association) as a Trustee overseeing accounting and finance issues.
Prof. Christopher Gadzirayi
PhD in Animal Production Science, Med, BEd Agricultural Education.
Professor Gadzirayi specialises in Agricultural Extension Education and Rural Innovations and is a currently a lecturer at Bindura University of Science Education.
-He has published 56 research articles, three book chapters on Agricultural Extension Worldwide Innovations, ICTs For @agricultural Extension and Ending poverty through affordable credit to small-scale cotton farmers: the case of the cotton company of Zimbabwe and technical report on status of STEM and a book on Blended supervisory management;
He has led a BIOFISA II R1 400 000 funded project on Commercialisation of sustainable broiler chicken feed with Moringa Oleifera in partial substitution for soya cake in Zimbabwe and South Africa;
Professor Gadzirayi has also formed strategic partnerships between industry and universities on the commercialization of research outputs, improved chicken nutrition through the utilization of Moleifera feed within the SADC region and formed the Zimbabwe National Moringa growers association.
He is a committee member to the continental African Biochar Partnerships (ABP) and seats on several boards of organisations involved with Agriculture. He is a member to SARFAAS – SADC board on Agricultural Advisory Services Influence policies and programmes related to agricultural advisory services and promoting the exchange of information and innovations and has done several consultancies with ICRAF, UNDP, SAT, FAO VECO & CIRAD.
Professor Gadzirayi is currently researching on:
Dr. Tsitsi Ndowora Nyamupingidza
Tsitsi holds a PhD in Plant Pathology (Virology) and Masters in Plant Pathology from the University of Minnesota, USA and a BSc in Crop Science (Honors) from the University of Zimbabwe.
She works with microorganisms as plant pathogens and in harnessing the ecosystem services offered by microbes for plant health improvement through various mechanisms of biological control, induced resistance in plants and phytomicrobiome manipulation.
She has worked in crop research, indigenous crops for food and nutrition security, organic agriculture and certification thereof as well as in natural products research.
She is a Lecturer at the Chinhoyi University of Technology where she supervises students and teaches microbiology and plant pathology courses at undergrad levels and food safety and quality management at master’s level.
Her research focuses on improving plant disease resistance that is premised on healthy soil as the foundation of plant health by augmenting soil and plant microbiomes for plant health.
Rodger Mpande
is an environment/agricultural development worker with over 35 years of work experience. Much of his work experience is from Africa, Europe, USA, Asia and the Latin America regions.
Rodger has a Master’s of Science Degree in Agronomy from the Kishinev M.V Frunze Agricultural Institute (U.S.S.R) and Master of Science in Environmental Governance with Specialization in Biodiversity from the United Nations University (UNU) in Japan and currently pursuing a Doctorate Study on Sustainable Development with a special focus on Green Economic Systems in Agriculture.
He is a strong advocate of the effective interface between science, policy and practice. Throughout his professional work experience he has taken a leading role in advocating for the effective participation of rural/indigenous communities and small-scale farmers in the formulation of international and national environmental governance instruments and policies. His major interests in the past 15 years is in the area of organic agricultural systems within the context of climate change and the heavy reliance of inorganic inputs in agriculture.
Rodger is a team builder, effective facilitator and strategic planner. His ability to interact with various stakeholders from a small- scale farmer, traditional healer, scientist, policy maker, makes him a good development facilitator. He is very keen to learn and disseminate new knowledge that can improve the health and economic well-being of the people in the developing countries.
Fortunate Nyakanda – Executive Director
Holds Master’s degree in Rural Development from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, National Agriculture Diploma from Gwebi Agriculture College as well as a Certificate in Environmental Education from Rhodes University.
She has vast experience in the field of organic agriculture gathered over 27 years of working with rural farmers in various organisations, and getting trainings with such institutions as GroLink and networking at various levels regionally and internationally.
Fortunate is also the chairperson of IFOAM Southern Africa, a board member of Africa Organic Network (AFRONET) and an advisor to the Southern Africa Organic Knowledge hub. Since 2008 Fortunate has dedicated her time to develop the Zimbabwe organic sector as the Executive Director of ZOPPA.
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