Professor Gabriel Kabanda

Professor Gabriel Kabanda: A Distinguished Scholar, Innovator, and Leader in the Digital Age

Professor Gabriel Kabanda, D.Sc., Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc., is an internationally acclaimed scholar, Full Professor of Computer Science/AI/ Machine Learning/ Big Data Analytics,  and visionary leader whose academic and professional trajectory spans over 38 years. Currently Head of Doctoral Programmes at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Graduate School of Business and Leadership, he has previously served as Pro Vice-Chancellor at Zimbabwe Open University and Professor of Applied Business Informatics at the University of Zimbabwe.

His scholarly footprint is extensive, comprising more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, 100 international conference presentations, and the successful supervision of over 20 doctoral theses. Professor Kabanda’s research portfolio encompasses Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Big Data Analytics, and Educational Technology, with seminal contributions to reinforcement learning, Bayesian networks, and metaverse-driven architectures. His expertise extends to global leadership studies as a Certified Resilience Researcher and Country Co-Investigator for Zambia and Zimbabwe in the GLOBE 2020 Project.

Professor Kabanda’s global recognition includes the Innovation Award in AI and Big Data Analytics (2024) and the prestigious International Lifetime Achievement Award in Education (2025) conferred by the London School of Digital Business. He is a Fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences and the African Scientific Institute, and serves on editorial boards of leading international journals.

His leadership philosophy integrates technological innovation, ethical governance, and strategic foresight to advance higher education policy and digital transformation across Africa. Through pioneering research and capacity-building initiatives, Professor Kabanda continues to shape scholarly ecosystems, foster sustainable development, and champion Afrocentric models of technological resilience. His enduring legacy reflects a commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and global collaboration in the digital age.

1. EXECUTIVE AND ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP

Professor Gabriel Kabanda is a seasoned academic who also worked in the corporate world, where he provided strategic leadership, amply demonstrated being a dynamic and strategic Executive Director/Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Acting CEO/Deputy Vice-Chancellor in large organizations, and strengthened collaboration with communities and industries while tenaciously aligning with the corporate strategy and interacting with external leadership. The C-level professional and academic positions held in the past 38 years include the following:

1. Head of Doctoral Programmes at the Graduate School of Business & Leadership, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (May 2024 – present)
2. Professor of Applied Business Informatics at the University of Zimbabwe Business School (Jan 2000 – Apr 2024)
3. Professor of Big Data in the Department of Computer Science at the National University of Science & Technology [Zimbabwe] (Jan 2022 - Dec 2023)
4. Vice President of Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences & Distinguished Full Professor, University of Zimbabwe (Jan 2018 - Apr 2024)
5. Adjunct Professor of Machine Learning at Woxsen University Business School [India] (Oct 2021 – Apr 2024)
6. Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity at California State University – Chico [USA]’s Executive Leadership Program (Jan 2022 -Dec 2023)
7. Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity at Ithaca College with ZSchool, New York [USA] (Aug 2020 - Dec 2020)
8. Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Enterprise Development) & Full Professor at Zimbabwe Open University (Jan 2008 – Dec 2017)
9. Director of ICT & Senior Lecturer at Zimbabwe Open University (Jan 2005 – Dec 2007)
10. Chief Operating Officer at Teleaccess Zimbabwe (Jan 2000 – Dec 2004)
11. Assistant General Manager (Information System) at Beverley Building Society (now CBZ Bank) (Jan 1998 – Dec 1999)
12. Principal Consultant (Information Technology) at Deloitte & Touche Management Consultants (Jan 1996 – Dec 1997).

EDUCATION