By Karen Williams

Many of Africa’s top scientists are leaving their country to live and work in developed countries. Bucking the trend of brain drain from Africa is Dr. Walter Manyangarirwa. An Africa University graduate and lecturer in Entomology and Plant Pathology, Manyangarirwa returned to his native Zimbabwe to give back after earning his Ph.D. in the United States.

In August 2005, Manyangarirwa took a study leave to enroll in the Ph.D. program in the Department of Entomology at Clemson (S.C.) University. The university and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Services paid his tuition in full. Manyangarirwa worked on a project called “Fighting Food Insecurity with Integrated Pest Management” in Zimbabwe.

Dr. Gloria McCutcheon, principal investigator and wife of a United Methodist pastor, initiated the project in 2004 while a professor in the Department of Entomology at Clemson University. She said the project’s purpose is “to develop alternative strategies to pest control in leafy greens so minimum amounts of chemical insecticides will be used in production.” A $45,000 grant from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service funded the project through 2009.

In August, Manyangarirwa received a Ph.D. in the Department of Entomology from Clemson University. Unlike many scientists who do not return to Africa, he chose to return to his teaching position at Africa University.

Africa University Vice Chancellor Dr. Fanuel Tagwira, noted, “This is one of the most significant arrangements. This speaks to capacity building at Africa University and the continent. The downstream effect is phenomenal.”

“I went to Clemson in August 2005 knowing I wanted to come back to Zimbabwe at the end of my program,” Manyangarirwa explained. “I did not have plans to remain in the United States after graduation. I feel that I will make a bigger contribution in teaching at Africa University because we have students from the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. It is quite exciting at Africa University because I teach students from very diverse backgrounds and cultures.”

Over the years of working on this project, Manyangarirwa has seen progress. “In Zimbabwe, we have identified parasites that can be used in the biological control of the main pest of vegetable greens,” he said. “The next stage is to train farmers on the identification of these parasites in the field as well as how to conserve them.”