Correspondent|NATIONAL University of Science and Technology (NUST) founding Vice Chancellor Professor Phineas Mogorosi Makhurane has died. Also known as “Double Brain”, Professor Makhurane was one of the first Africans to major in Physics and Mathematics at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Professor Makhurane was also the first black Zimbabwean to acquire a PhD in the sciences. He later went on to hold numerous high level positions in the Education sector in Southern Africa such as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Botswana and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe where he was influential in the expansion of the university’s infrastructure.

Until his retirement Professor Makhurane was Vice-Chancellor at the National University of Science and Technology in Buluwayo. He left NUST in 2004, and was also once a ZIMSEC Board Chairman, among many other positions.

Makhurane was also ZAPU representative in Sweden during the struggle for independence.

Makhurane was an esteemed academic and chairman of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education. On the 8th of April 1991, NUST opened for the very first time with 270 students in the three Faculties. The number of academic staff was 28.

More details regarding his death will follow.