The Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA) has a new Head of Department (HOD) in the name of Professor Azwihangwisi Edward Nesamvuni. His appointment is with effect from the beginning of May 2010. Nesamvuni is appointed to the position after a few months since the departure of former HOD, Mr Bigman Maloa. Nesamvuni has been acting in the position since Maloa left the LDA. He is not new to the department; he has been the General Manager for Research and Training whilst acting as HOD.
Professor Nesamvuni, who hails from Miluwani (Sibasa) near Thohoyandou, is a graduate in agriculture. He has junior and senior degrees in agriculture; he obtained his BSc Agric (Honours) with distinction (Cum Laude) from Fort Hare University (1990); M Sc Agric from the same university in 1993 and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in the United State of America (USA) in 1995.
He is a registered natural scientist by the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions; a member of the South African Society of Animal Science, the South African Society of Agricultural Extension. Nesamvuni is a Fulbright Scholar. In his academic career, he won many prizes which include amongst others; Shell scholarship, J L irvin Rumevite, Fort Hare Foundation Merit, Boeresake Gold Medal and United Nations Scholarship Awards.
As a professor, he held many academic positions from being a Junior Lecturer and Dean’s Assistantship at the Universities of Venda and Fort Hare from 1989 to 1992 respectively. In 1996 he rejoined the University of Venda for Science and Technology as a Senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, and became Head of Department in 1989. He became Deputy Dean of the School of Agriculture and Rural Development and Forestry in 1999 and appointed Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Rural Development in 2002. He then moved to government and was appointed as Senior Manager in Agricultural Research Services in 2005, and General Manager for District Services, Research and Extension in 2006.
Introducing him to top management last night, MEC for Agriculture, Ms Dipuo Letsatsi Duba said he is expected to start “cracking the whip”. “We believe his leadership skills will take us to greater heights. I am expecting him to deliver on the mandates given to us by the ruling party and our entire stake holders out there,” she said. The MEC hopes his appointment will yield positive results on government’s emphasis on rural development and food security.
For more information contact:
Kenny Mathivha
Cell: 082 450 1331
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Limpopo Provincial Government
4 May 2010
