Arthur Mutambara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Mutambara
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| Institute for the Future of Knowledge (University of Johannesburg) | |
| Assumed office 2021 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara
(25 May 1966 age 57) Rhodesia |
| Alma mater | University of Zimbabwe Merton College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Full professor |
| Profession | Professor |
Arthur G.O. Mutambara is a smart professor and expert in technology. He works as the director and a full professor at the Institute for the Future of Knowledge (IFK) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa.
At IFK, Professor Mutambara leads a research group called Decentralized Artificial Intelligence and Control Systems (DAICS). This group works on exciting new ideas in technology. He also helps lead the African Agency in Public Health (AAPH) project, which is part of the Future of Health (FoH) Research Group.
Besides his research, Professor Mutambara teaches about Control Systems at UJ. He teaches students in both the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Engineering departments. He helps students learn and come up with new ideas.
Contents
Arthur Mutambara's Journey
Before becoming a professor, Arthur Mutambara was an important political leader. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. From 2009 to 2013, he helped lead the Government of National Unity (GNU). He worked with former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and former President Robert Mugabe.
As Deputy Prime Minister, he advised the Prime Minister on important decisions. He also made sure that plans were put into action. He looked after ministries that dealt with things like energy, transport, and communication. He also helped with projects to create a shared vision for Zimbabwe and improve the country's image. He also worked on a big plan for national infrastructure.
Academic and Professional Life
Professor Mutambara is known around the world for his ideas. He has given talks on leadership, engineering, and business. In the United States, he was a research scientist at NASA. He was also a visiting professor at famous universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Carnegie Mellon University. He also taught at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University – Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering. Students and other professors have praised his teaching and research.
He also worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company in Chicago. Later, he was the Director of Electronic Payments at Standard Bank in South Africa. Professor Mutambara is a highly qualified engineer. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE). He is also a Fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences (ZAS) and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Books and Ideas
Professor Mutambara has written six books. Three of his books are about electrical engineering. These books are used by engineering students in many countries, including the United States, Europe, China, Japan, and Africa. Some of his engineering books include "Decentralized Estimation and Control for Multisensor Systems" (1998) and "Design and Analysis of Control Systems" (1999). In 2024, he also wrote "Driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR): Design and Analysis of Control Systems."
He has also written three other books that share his thoughts and ideas. These books are part of a series called "In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream." The first book, "Volume I: The Formative Years and the Big Wide World (1983–2002)," talks about his early life. "Volume II: The Path to Power (2003–2009)" covers his journey into politics. The last book, "Volume III: Ideas & Solutions: Deputy Prime Minister and Beyond (2009–2023)," shares his ideas and experiences as Deputy Prime Minister and beyond.
Political Involvement
In 2005, a political party called the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had a disagreement. This led to the party splitting into two groups. In February 2006, Arthur Mutambara was chosen as the president of one of these groups. He believed that the party should have boycotted certain elections.
He was chosen as a leader because he was from the Shona people. It was thought that a Shona candidate would have a better chance of winning elections across Zimbabwe.
Working Towards Unity
In 2008, Professor Mutambara decided not to run for president. Instead, his group supported another candidate, Simba Makoni. After the parliamentary election in March 2008, the two parts of the MDC party decided to reunite. This gave the MDC a strong majority in parliament.
On September 15, 2008, a power-sharing agreement was signed. This agreement was witnessed by leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Under this agreement, Robert Mugabe remained president, Morgan Tsvangirai became prime minister, and Arthur Mutambara became deputy prime minister. This agreement helped bring different political groups together to govern Zimbabwe.
Speaking Out
In June 2023, during a book launch in South Africa, Professor Mutambara gave an important speech. He spoke strongly about his belief in democracy. He said that "Africa needs new leadership," encouraging people to think about the future of the continent.
