Dr Mayibongwe Louis Mzingwane is a registered Clinical virologist with the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe. He is also registered with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa as a Biological scientist (virology).  His research interests are in HIV cure, antimicrobial drug resistance, molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases and HIV co-infections were he has published articles in peer reviewed journals and presented at various international scientific fora focusing on HIV reservoirs and viral persistence during antiretroviral therapy. Currently his focus is on characterization of emerging arboviruses of public health and animal health concern in the face of climate change using metagenomic next generation sequencing. The research seeks to use pathogen genomic data for rapid detection of emerging and re-emerging arboviral infections and map the disease landscape as climatic conditions continue to change. In addition to teaching undergraduate students and research, he also teaches post graduate students including supervision of post graduate research projects. He has also examined post graduate projects and dissertations from various institutions of higher learning as external examiner. He has also developed new modules and courses in medical microbiology for various programmes that are offered within the faculty including Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Nursing and Midwifery sciences and Biomedical sciences. His expertise also covers specialist diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases using molecular technologies.

Dr Mzingwane has been with NUST since 2006 starting off as a Staff Development fellow in the Division of Basic medical sciences. Prior to coming to NUST, he worked for 5 years in a local leading pharmaceutical company as Senior microbiologist responsible for quality assurance in the production of critical care medical and pharmaceutical products. He received a PhD in Medical virology from the University of Pretoria, an MSc in Medical microbiology from the University of Zimbabwe and a post graduate diploma in Higher education and BSc in Applied Biology and Biochemistry from NUST. He has won various grants, awards and fellowships including the International AIDS Society (IAS) Research-for-Cure Academy Fellowship, HIV Research Trust Scholarship and was third award winner at the inaugural Merck Africa research awards that were held in Switzerland. He is a full IAS member and also a Contributing member of the American society for Microbiology.

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