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 Mutambara is a smart leader, teacher, and tech expert. He works at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa. He is the director and a full professor at the Institute for the Future of Knowledge (IFK).
He is known for his skills in robotics, teaching, and technology planning. He helps shape how we learn and use new technology. At IFK, Professor Mutambara leads a research group focused on Artificial Intelligence. He also works on a project to improve public health in Africa using technology.
He teaches Control Systems at UJ. This helps students learn about how systems work and how to make them better.
Contents
Early Life and Public Service
Before his work at the university, Arthur Mutambara was a key political figure. 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 oversaw ministries like Energy, Transport, and Technology. He helped create a shared vision for Zimbabwe. He also worked on a plan to improve the country's infrastructure.
Professor Mutambara is also a well-known public speaker. He has given talks around the world on leadership and engineering. In the United States, he worked at NASA as a research scientist. He was also a visiting professor at top universities like MIT. He has received great reviews for his teaching and research.
He also worked as a business consultant for McKinsey & Company. Later, he became a director at Standard Bank in South Africa.
His work in engineering and technology is highly respected. He is a member of many important engineering groups. These include the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
His Books and Writings
Arthur Mutambara has written many books. He has written six books on different subjects. Three of his books are about electrical engineering. These books are used in universities around the world. They include "Decentralized Estimation and Control for Multisensor Systems" (1998). Another is "Design and Analysis of Control Systems" (1999). His latest engineering book is "Driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)" (2024).
He has also written three books about leadership and ideas. These books tell his life story and share his thoughts. They are part of a series called "In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream." The first book covers his early years (1983–2002). The second is about his journey into politics (2003–2009). The third book shares his ideas and solutions from his time as Deputy Prime Minister and beyond (2009–2023).
Political Journey
In 2005, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party split. This happened because of a disagreement about an election. Arthur Mutambara was against taking part in that election.
In 2006, he was chosen as the president of one of the MDC groups. He said that the party should have boycotted the elections. He wanted the party to move forward and unite its members.
Some believed he was chosen because he is from the Shona people. This was seen as a way to win support across Zimbabwe. Mutambara said his group's views on land reform were different from Western governments. He believed land reform should help all Zimbabweans, black and white.
He was arrested by the police in Zimbabwe several times. This happened while he was leading marches or traveling. He was later released without charges.
2008 Elections and Unity
In 2008, Mutambara decided not to run for president. His group supported another candidate, Simba Makoni. Mutambara ran for a seat in parliament instead. He did not win his parliamentary seat.
However, his group and the other MDC group later reunited. This gave the MDC a strong majority in parliament.
In June 2008, Mutambara was arrested again at his home. This was because of an article he wrote. In the article, he criticized the government and its actions. He was released on bail. He said his suffering was small compared to what the people faced. He promised that they would overcome challenges.
Power-Sharing Agreement
In September 2008, a power-sharing deal was signed. This agreement was between the two MDC groups and the ZANU-PF party. Under this deal, Robert Mugabe remained president. Morgan Tsvangirai became prime minister. Arthur Mutambara became the Deputy Prime Minister. This deal aimed to bring stability to Zimbabwe.
Important Speech
In June 2023, during a book launch in South Africa, Mutambara gave a notable speech. He spoke strongly about the need for democracy. He boldly stated that "Africa needs new leadership."
See Also
- Zimbabwe
- University of Johannesburg
