Professor Munashe Furusa, Africa University’s fourth vice chancellor, died suddenly Jan. 13. He was 59.
Stephene Chikozho, Africa University’s director of advancement and public affairs, said Furusa was taken to Victoria Chitepo Hospital in the early hours of Jan. 13 and died a few hours later.
Furusa, who became vice chancellor in 2015, was shaped by his experience as the first person in his family to obtain a higher education degree. He is being remembered as a champion for educational access for underprivileged students and an important voice for United Methodist-related higher education.
North Katanga Area Bishop Mande Muyombo, AU board chair, shared his sadness and said the best way to honor Furusa is to carry on his legacy.
“There are no words rich enough and no emotions deep enough to adequately put across the loss that we feel both individually and collectively,” he said.
Africa University is the first and only fully accredited institution of higher learning established on the African continent by action of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church.