Gilbert Tinashe Zvaita
Researcher
Durban,KwaZulu-Natal
Summary
Skilled and innovative researcher enthusiastic about supporting advancements in humanities and social sciences. Passionate about increasing knowledge to drive growth and needed improvements in focus areas such as peacebuilding, democracy, elections, and youth development in Africa. Ready to apply knowledge and 8 years of experience in research.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
13
13
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Research Lead
M&G Research
Durban
01.2021 - Current
- Lead team of 5-10 researchers providing effective leadership and oversight of range of research programs and projects. Increased academic research training and coaching and research reviews output
- Further responsibilities leading field research and report writing.
- Established education research technology development project for future research currently in progress.
Teaching Assistant
DUT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT 101
09.2021 - 12.2021
- Duties involved assisting with online lectures on MS Teams when lecturer was absent for class of over 500 students.
- Mainly responsible for communicating updates to students, setting Test questions, consulting with students in their WhatsApp assignment groups on developing business proposal, and marking assignments.
- Tutored struggling students individually and in small groups to reinforce learning concepts
- Supported planning and preparation for culturally-diverse class sessions
- Helped with grading assignments and tests, providing constructive feedback to students based on results
- Facilitated activities in small groups to reinforce concepts taught by class teacher
Teaching Assistant
DUT CENTRE FOR GENERAL EDUCATION
01.2020 - 08.2020
- Facilitating discussions on weekly themes introduced during lectures, training academic writing, and weekly consultations with students
- Grading essays, filing weekly registers and class activities, and attending weekly briefing meetings.
- Supported classroom activities, tutoring, and reviewing work
Research Team Leader
Research University Paris (PSL)
06.2018 - 09.2019
- Team leader for Durban research team of six researchers involved in international research established within research project, ‘re-examining Elections after African Experiences’ – an international socio-anthropological research initiative on society, politics and electoral processes in South Africa
- Project involved field research (primary data collection) and data analysis
- Co-authored research paper from this project published by ACCORD’s Conflict Trends, Issue 3 of 2019.
Teaching Assistant
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL (UKZN)
01.2014 - 12.2018
- Coordinated academic learning (coordinating class discussions for average 30-50 students, consulting with students, and marking assignments and tests) for Political Science, Community Development, Conflict and Religion, and Development Studies modules.
- Supported classroom activities, tutoring, and reviewing work
- Organized materials in classroom spaces based on lecture plans, activity stations or other requirements outlined by teachers
Student Assistant & Mentor
UKZN DISABILITY UNITY-STUDENT ASSISTANT
01.2017 - 06.2017
- Offering support services that include material development, editing, scribing notes for brail, and exam invigilation for differentially abled students.
- Assisted with research projects to provide accurate and relevant information to support decision-making
- Created and formatted documents to keep projects professional and well-presented to communicate intended message clearly
Education
PhD - Public Administration & Peace Studies
Durban University of Technology
Durban, South Africa 01.2018 - 05.2024
Master of Social Sciences - Conflict Transformation & Peace Studies
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL
Durban, South Africa 01.2015 - 09.2017
Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) - Conflict Transformation & Peace Studies
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, South Africa 01.2014 - 04.2015
Bachelor of Social Science - Development Studies and Political Science
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, South Africa 01.2011 - 04.2014
Skills
Team LeadershipAcademic ResearchAdaptabilityCommunicationMicrosoft OfficeTech-savvy
Discussion Facilitation
Computer Skills
Research Reporting
Data Collection
Research Design
Digital Research Tools
Critical Thinking
Delivering Presentations
Methodology Selection
Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Affiliations
Golden Key International Honour Society
Timeline
Teaching Assistant
DUT ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT 101
09.2021 - 12.2021
Research Lead
M&G Research
01.2021 - Current
Teaching Assistant
DUT CENTRE FOR GENERAL EDUCATION
01.2020 - 08.2020
Research Team Leader
Research University Paris (PSL)
06.2018 - 09.2019
PhD - Public Administration & Peace Studies
Durban University of Technology
01.2018 - 05.2024
Student Assistant & Mentor
UKZN DISABILITY UNITY-STUDENT ASSISTANT
01.2017 - 06.2017
Master of Social Sciences - Conflict Transformation & Peace Studies
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL
01.2015 - 09.2017
Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) - Conflict Transformation & Peace Studies
University of KwaZulu-Natal
01.2014 - 04.2015
Teaching Assistant
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL (UKZN)
01.2014 - 12.2018
Bachelor of Social Science - Development Studies and Political Science
University of KwaZulu-Natal
01.2011 - 04.2014
Publications
Book Chapters
- Zvaita, G.T.,2024. Devolved Parliament and Public Participation: Mainstreaming Citizen Engagement in Parliamentary Portfolio Committees at the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures, In Kariuki, P. and Goyayi, M.L. (eds) The South African Parliament, Politics, and Democratic Governance in the Post-Covid 19 Era: Challenges, Insights, and Possibilities, Democracy Development Program, University of Johannesburg Press.
- Tshuma, D. & Zvaita, G.T. ,2024.The quest for peace and the limits of arbitration in Abyei Region (Sudan/South Sudan), In Ehiane, S.O., Shulika, L.S. and Vhumbunu, C.H. (eds), Engagement of Africa in Conflict Dynamics and Peace Architectures, Palgrave Macmillan: Singapore.
- Nkhatho, M.M., Muringa, T.P. & Zvaita, G.T.,2024. Framing the deportation of Zimbabwean immigrants. A comparative analysis of South African and British online press, The Diasporean- An edited volume (to be published by the Alternation African Scholarship Book series).
- Zvaita, G.T., 2023. The Gender Gap in South Africa: A closer look at youth leadership initiatives, In Kariuki, P. and Msuya, N. (eds) Gender, Race, and Politics in South Africa: Towards Diverse, Inclusive, and Transformed Political Leadership, Democracy Development Program, University of Johannesburg Press.
- Zvaita, G.T. & Yussuf, I., 2020. Devising More Effective Peacebuilding Tools for Africa, In Kellett, P. M., Connaughton, S. L., and Cheney, G. (eds). Transforming Conflict and Building Peace: Community Engagement Strategies for Communication Scholarship and Practice, Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang US, 2020
Journal Articles
- Zvaita, G.T.& Kaye, S.B., 2023. Peacebuilding Agency among the Youth in the High-Density Suburb of Mbare, Zimbabwe, African Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 12, 2, 7, 2023
- Muringa, T.P. & Zvaita, G.T., 2022. Land resettlement in post-colonial Zimbabwe: A look into the government land resettlement approaches, Journal of Inclusive cities and Built environment, 2, 4, 53-66, 2022
- Mbara, G.C., Gopal, N. & Zvaita, G.T., 2020. Interrogating the implications of Nigeria’s quest for a permanent United Nations Security Council Chair on the welfare of her citizens, Journal of African Foreign Affairs, 7, 1, 129-150, 2020
- Mbara, G.C., Gopal, N. & Zvaita, G.T. , 2021. Corruption, Insurgency, and the Effectiveness of Counterinsurgency Efforts in Nigeria, African Renaissance, 18, 4, 115.
- Zvaita, G.T.& Mbara, G., 2019. Engaging the values of local participation in African peacebuilding processes, Journal of African Union Studies, 8, 2, 155-178.
- Zvaita, G. T. & Tshuma, D., 2019. Political fatalism and youth apathy in South Africa: an analysis of the 2019 general election, Conflict Trends, 2019, 3, 20-29.
- Mandikwaza, E. & Zvaita, G. ,2020. Electoral Abuse and A Fearful Electorate - GGA, GGA Online Research Article, https://gga.org/electoral-abuse-and-a-fearful-electorate/
Presentations & Conferences
- Zvaita, G.T. (2018). Structural violence and the future of youth in Southern Africa. Presentation for the Young Civil Society and Contemporary Issues program at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Civil Society (CCS) in October 2018.
- Zvaita, G.T. (2021). Harnessing social entrepreneurship for youth peacebuilding in Mbare, Zimbabwe. Presented at the ‘Good Governance, Participatory Democracy, and Social Justice: Civil Society as an Agent of Change and Innovation in Africa’ Conference (Virtual Conference) hosted by University of Johanesburg.
- Zvaita, G.T. (2018). Social entrepreneurship as a systemic peacebuilding tool for youth agency in addressing structural violence. Conference presentation at the Safety and Violence Initiative Conference (SaVi), University of Capetown hosted at The River Club, Observatory, Cape Town (15-16 Oct. 2018).
Professional Courses
- International Training on Non-Violence and Leadership (2014)-Ekta Parishad-India
- Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) (2018)-KZN AVP Network
- Global Climate Change Regime Course -Bergen Summer Research School 2020
- Conflict Transformation: Your Practical Toolkit for Peacebuilding (2021)- Peace Direct (Online Course)