admin“Being passionate about IT myself, I feel it is high time organisations invest in ICT new technologies and staff training so that they become ICT conversant at all levels of the organisational structure,” he said.
Dr Hapanyengwi also believes organisations should align their business strategies with the vast ICT options available such as the concept of cloud computing that is currently topical the world over and significantly cuts down on expenses relating to infrastructural set-up.
“ICT business alignment involves functional integration of the business strategy, ICT strategy and the organisational infrastructure thereby linking the ICT structure to the business structures and strategies while the ICT people’s duty would be to ensure that everyone at all levels of the organisation is ICT conversant,” he said.
Born in Gweru in 1963, Dr Hapanyengwi is the third in a family of four boys and two girls. He attended Bumburwi and St Paul’s primary schools in Mkoba, Gweru.
He proceeded to Holy Cross Mission in Chirumanzu for his secondary education before transferring to Ascot Secondary School at Ordinary Level.
He proceeded to Gokomere High School in Masvingo where he developed a soft spot for IT after being inspired by one of the teachers, a Mr Richard Knottenbelt, and ultimately the University of Zimbabwe in 1983 where he graduated with a first class Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science in 1985.
Before going to Gokomere he wanted to become a mathematics teacher.
Dr Hapanyengwi left for Vanderbilt University in the United States in 1987 before returning to Zimbabwe in 1993 after attaining a masters degree and a PhD in Computer Science.
Dr Hapanyengwi takes over the Computer Society of Zimbabwe presidency from Mr Atwell Mukusha, who has been president for the past three years, a move he described as an honour and challenge at the same time.
“I take this as an honour and incredible challenge as there is urgent need for better recognition of the CSZ and the appreciation of an IT person’s skills in any business venture and I believe my team will step up and give me the necessary support in discharging my duties,” he said.
Dr Hapanyengwi says among the goals he seeks to achieve during his term of office is the critical aspect of improving professionalism within the society and the appreciation of ICT from the grassroots such as from primary schools.
“I have goals that I intend to achieve during my tenure and chief among them is to ensure that the CSZ runs professionally while spreading the ICT discipline to young people so that ICT can be appreciated and treated with the weight and respect that it deserves,” he added.
He believes if IT could be made compulsory in schools the same manner subjects like English and Mathematics are, then talent would be identified much earlier and nurtured accordingly.
“You find that most kids are proficient in English at a tender age because of the exposure that they get, so I believe the same should also be done with IT, so that by the time kids are in high school they will already be proficient in IT because as I speak IT is no longer a luxury but rather a necessity in everyday life,” he said.
He added that Government and relevant authorities should work together so that an enabling environment is created that will lead to the translation of skills into actual production inasfar as ICT products are concerned.
As an ICT guru himself, Dr Hapanyengwi says he wants to see to fruition the integration of the CSZ with the business community so that they can be appreciated as people who can bring about business solutions.
“My hope is to see the society fully integrating with the business community so that the world can see that as ICT personnel we can bring business solutions to organisations,” he said.
He says he also wants to focus on special interest groups such as Chief Information Officers so that their skills and expertise can be fully utilised and already plans are at an advanced stage to ensure by year end there should be two special interest groups formed.
“Currently, there is one group for college students that we are finalising and by so doing I believe talent can be identified and nurtured while still in school,” he added.
Dr Hapanyengwi also emphasised the need for ensuring that the IT person remains relevant in today’s organisational structure and so the CSZ Summer School is set to have a regional flair as this November they are expecting several guest speakers from abroad.
“In our quest to ensure the ICT person remains relevant, we have many programmes in place among them the summer school, whereby ICT personnel brainstorm on various issues that enhance the profession and I am happy to say for the forthcoming summer school in November we have invited the president of the International Federation of
Information Processing to come and make a presentation during the session,” said Dr Hapanyengwi.
Continuous professional development is also one of the key aspects that he believes can transform an ICT professional since the field is dynamic and there are constant advancements that keep coming up.
“In this regard, it is imperative to go a step further and dwell on continuous individual development so that everyone can be equipped with the new technology inventions that come up,” he said.
The CSZ boss also said deliberations have since started as they seek to rebrand the society with a possible name change on the cards so that they remain relevant in this era where ICT has proved to be dynamic.
Apart from being the CSZ president, Dr Hapanyengwi is also the director of ICT at the University of Zimbabwe while he also sits on the boards of Powertel, Trust Academy and the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe Group Funeral Scheme as well as secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences.
Dr Hapanyengwi says he draws his inspiration from the Bible as he is a devout Christian.
“The Bible inspires me in everything I do as it is the only place that tells me to be a hard worker while also reminding me to use my God-given talents.
“My father inspired me as well on the virtues of being a hard worker as he is a very hard worker himself,” he added.
Apart from being an ICT professional, Dr Hapanyengwi is also an active member of his church where he is also a preacher and youth adviser.
Dr Hapanyengwi is married to Lillian and the couple have a son Tichafara (12) and a daughter Matinatsa (9).
He enjoys spending his spare time with his family while he also loves playing basketball and tennis. He is also a consummate sports junkie as he literally enjoys watching all sports.
Online Reporter