Staff Profiles

1984-1987 BSc, Chemistry and Biology Major, University of Botswana         

1988-1989  MSc in Pharmacology (Plant Medicines), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

1991-1994: PhD in Natural Products Chemsitry, University of Strathclde,&nbGlsgow,&UK

Professor Runner R. T. Majinda, a full professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Botswana, is a researcher and Lecturer at the University of Botswana. A citizen of Botswana, born in 1961. He obtained his BSc degree in Chemistry and Biology at the University of Botswana in 1987 and an MSc degree in Pharmacology (with plant medicines option) from the University of Strathclyde in 1989. After lecturing at the University of Botswana for two years in 1991 his employers granted him a scholarship for a PhD in Natural Products Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde under the supervision of Professors Peter G. Waterman and Roger D. Waigh which he successfully completed in 1994. Upon returning to Botswana he embarked on a University teaching career and rose through the ranks to post of full professor in 2006. His research interests have been in the area of bioactive natural products found in Botswana Medicinal plants, chief among which are plants from the genus Erythrina. He together with his colleagues in the Departments of Chemsitry and Biological Sciences and also collaborators overseas have looked at the various aspects of

Undergraduate: General Chemistry (CHE 102), Organic Chemistry (CHE 232, CHE 331, CHE 431, CHE 432).

Postgraduate: Spectroscopic methods in organic Chemistry Spectroscopy (CHE 632), Polycyclic and heterocyclic Aromatic Chemistry (CHE 635)  and Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites (CHE 638). 

His research interests have been in the area of bioactive natural products found in Botswana Medicinal plants, chief among which are plants from the genus Erythrina. He together with his colleagues in the Departments of Chemsitry and Biological Sciences and also collaborators overseas have looked at the various aspects of natural products such as isolation and structural elucidation, biological activity and synthesis.

He has co-authored over 80 publications which are published in reputable peer-reviewed international journals such as, among others, Phytochemistry, Planta Medica, and Journal of Natural Products. 

He has supervised students in the area of natural products chemistry and synthesis of medicinal and food plants found in Botswana and neighboring countries. Altogether he has supervised 12 MSc, 4 MPhil and 15 PhD students and is currently co-supervising 2 PhD students

1. J.O. Ombito, G. Bojase, R.R.T. Majinda, I.B. Masesane, A. Scuffler, S. Pusch, C.Weber , T. Opatz (2020). Chemical constituents of the root wood of Erythrina sacleuxii and determination of the absolute configuration of suberectin. Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, 34: 135-140.
2.  O.S. Ajayi, M.A. Aderogba, E.O. Akinkunmi, E. M. Obuotor, R.R. T. Majinda (2020). Bioactive compounds from Nauclea latifolia leaf extracts.  Journal of King Suad University-Science 32, 2419-2425.
3. J. O. Ombito, G. Bojase, R. R. T. Majinda, I. B. Masesane, A. Schuffer, T. Opatz  (2019). Erysaucleuxins C and D, new isoflavones from the twigs of Erythrina saucleuxii and their cytotoxic activity. Arabian Journal of Chemistry,13: 4019-4023.
4. O.S. Ajayi, M. A. Aderogba, E. M. Obuotor, R. R. T. Majinda (2019). Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor from Anthocleista vogelii leaf extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 231: 503-506.

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION

Presently, I am a senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Botswana. I, currently teach Integrated Foundations of Education courses (Philosophy of Education, History of Education, Sociology of Education)both to undergraduate and graduate. I also co-teach qualitative research and program evaluation courses to graduate students. I am presently the Principal Investigator (PI) of a research project titled “Norms and norms and beliefs related to cervical cancer screening amongst women aged 25-49 in Botswana: A pilot study” funded by University of Pennsylvania (NIH UPenn U54). I am also involved in The Botswana Education Achievement Monitor (BEAM) research grant project.

From 2009 until now, I have been working on a capacity-building study between University of Pennsylvania and the University of Botswana: “Partnership for capacity-building for HIV/STD prevention research for Batswana adolescents”. I was the master facilitator in this project. I was involved in the design and implementation of the HIV adolescent’s intervention program in selected Botswana Junior Secondary Schools.

From 2012 to 2018 I have been co-teaching the Transdisciplinary Summer and Winter Course (Indigenous Research) emphasis on African Philosophy at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

I serve on various committees. A partial listing includes University-Wide HIV/AIDS Committee, Departmental Research Committee, PGDE Teaching pRACTICE

INTEGRATED FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION( SOCIOLOGY AND HISTORY OF EDUCATION)

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH INTEREST: MAJOR:TEACHER EDUCATION, INDIGENOUS RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, 

OTHERS: ADOLESCENTS AND HIV, CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING

MASTER OF EDUCATION: GENDER EDUCATION (FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY)

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY: PROGRAM EVALUATION STUDIES, COUNSELING

BA Humanities (English & History) (UB)

Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) (UB)

Post Graduate Diploma in Counsellor Education (PGDCE) (UB)

MA Community Agency Counselling (Birmingham, Alabama) USA

PhD Clinical Mental Health Counselling (Florida) USA

Dr Aaron Majuta is an experienced educator who has taught Guidance and Counselling in Junior Secondary Schools for 5 years, Senior Secondary Schools for 2 years and in higher institutions of learning for seventeen years. He has taught, supervised both graduate and undergraduate learners in both research and clinical work in counselling. He has done imperical research work in guidance and counseling policy formulation. In addition he has responded extensively to various community needs in terms of provision of trauma counselling. Dr Majuta has served in various professional organization at various levels as follows;

• Member of the Eye Movement Densensitization and Reprocessing International Association (EMDRIA) (2020-)
• President of Botswana Counselling Association (BCA) (2017-2019), currently a member
• Executive Secretary of Botswana Educational Research Association (BERA) (2012-2013) currently a member
• Editor of American Multicultural Counselling Association (AMCD) newsletter (2007-2008) currently a member of AMCD.

I teach the following broad areas within the field of Counselling:

• Guidance and Counselling
• Group Process and Dynamics
• Theories of Counselling
• Helping Relationship Skills
• Practicum and Internship in Counselling
• Clinical Supervision
• Multicultural Counselling
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Counselling
• Appraisal and Diagnosis in Counselling

Both my research  and clinical practice in counselling are driven by the construstivist and existential worldview with a focal lens of trauma and crisis. This lands my research interests in the following areas;

• Disaster, crises and trauma
• Spiritual and religious coping
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy, EMDR
• Marriage and Family Counselling
• Reputation Enhancement
• Mattering
• Group Counselling
• Multicultural Counselling and Social Justice

In my supervision career both research and clinical work, i have and still am supervising trainees in the following areas;

• guidance and counselling in institutions of learning
• addiction counselling
• group counselling
• career counselling
• disaster, crisis and trauma

1. Zeligman, M., Majuta, A., & Shannonhouse, L. (2020). Posttraumatic growth in prolonged drought survivors in Botswana: The role of social support and religious coping. Traumatology.

   2. Shannonhouse, L., Bialo, J., Majuta A., et.al. (2019).  Conserving resources during chronic disaster: Impact of religious and meaning focused coping on Botswana drought survivors . Psychological Trauma, Theory, Research, Practice and Policy.

  3. Coker , A.D., & Majuta, A. (2015). Teaching group counselling in Botswana: Two U.S trained counselors discuss experiences and share cultural considerations for practice. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 40, 102-116.

4. Majuta, A. (2010). The relationship between vicarious traumatization and quality of life and purpose in life in healthcare providers of cancers patients in Botswana (Ph.D. thesis). George Smithers Libraries, University of Florida.

PhD (Reading University, UK) Entomology

BSc (Hons) Zoology (Bendel State University, Nigeria)  

Ntebaleng Makate, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Botswana in Gaborone. She received her BSc (Hons.) degree in Zoology from Bendel State University, Ekpoma in Nigeria and her PhD from Reading University, UK, in Insect Molecular Biology. She has been a recipient of the CV Raman International Fellowship for African Researchers. She is also a member of the National Taxonomy Committee (NTC) a committee mandated to drive the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) programme of work in Botswana.

Her teaching is in the area of Entomology, Parasitology and Invertebrate Zoology.

1. Molecular identification of insect pests of agricultural and medical importance and their control.

2. Distribution of malaria vectors in Botswana and their insecticide resistance status towards the use of synthetic chemicals.

Her recent research activities include a project on i) ‘Mosquito Abundance, Diversity and Assessment of Public Health Risk’ and

ii) 'Evaluating the Impact of Malaria Health Posts on Resident and Mobile and Migrant Populations in E8 Border Districts'

1.  Stored product entomology

2.  Malaria vector control

1. Tefo Kesaobaka Kgoroebutswe, Ntebaleng Makate, Ulrike Fillinger, Mandla Mpho, Godira Segoea, Peter Onyango Sangoro, Cliford Maina Mutero, Emmanuel Chanda, Davies Ntebela, Mpho Mogopa, Tjantilili Mosweunyane and Theresia Estomih Nkya (2020) Vector control for malaria elimination in Botswana: progress, gaps and opportunities. Malaria Journal 19:301 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03375-6

2. T. K. Kgoroebutswe, P. Ramatlho, S. Reeder, N. Makate & G.M. Paganotti (2020) Distribution of Anopheles mosquito species and profiling of kdr status in malaria vectors of Botswana. Parasitology Research 119(4), 1201-1208

3.  Makate, N. (2016) Insecticide resistance status in Botswana. In Insecticide resistance. InTech Pages 262-274 ISBN no.978-953-51-4591-2

MSc from University of Cape town, "Elephant space use in relation to ephemeral surface water availability in the eastern Okavango Panhandle, Botswana". Awarded 2022

BSc Hons Geographical Information Systems from Kingston University, First class. Awarded 2015

Anastacia Makati has completed her MSc with University of Cape town in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science. Her research was on Elephant space use in relation to ephemeral surface water availability in eastern Okavango Panhandle, Botswana. She also holds a BSc (Hons) in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) from Kingston University London and obtained a “first class”. She has been concentrating her research in GIS and remote sensing applications. Her expertise includes Geospatial data creation, Remote Sensing, Spatial Statistics, R Statistics, Python and 3D modelling using Sketch Up and web design. She currently works as a GIS technician for the University of Botswana, Okavango Research Institute (ORI) based in Maun, Botswana whose objectives are to be research intensive, to practice engaged research and to disseminate research supported information to its stakeholders. To contribute towards this endeavor, her everyday duties as GIS Technician are to provide technical support in earth observation studies to graduate students and academic staff and to extend services to external researchers and the community. Additionally, her duties include collection of raw GPS data using GPS as well as creation and management of geographic databases. She aspires to be a researcher in the area of GIS and remote sensing disciplines.

• Introduction to applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Annual lectures presented to undergraduate students during GEC 431 Winter Course at ORI and MDP students
• Introduction to remote sensing and its applications, Annual lectures presented to undergraduate students during GEC 431 Winter Course at ORI and MDP students
• Introduction to Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Annual lectures presented to undergraduate students during GEC 431 Winter Course at ORI and MDP students

GIS

Remote sensing

ecology

spatial analysis

machine learning

• GEC 431 Winter Course at ORI and MDP students

Helfter, C., Gondwe, M., Murray-Hudson, M., Makati, A., Lunt, M. F., Palmer, P. I., & Skiba, U. (2022). Phenology is the dominant control of methane emissions in a tropical non-forested wetland. Nature communications, 13(1), 1-11, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27786-4.

Helfter, C., Gondwe, M., Murray-Hudson, M., Makati, A., & Skiba, U. (2022). From sink to source: high inter-annual variability in the carbon budget of a Southern African wetland. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 380(2215), 20210148; DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2021.0148.

Babayani, N. D., & Makati, A. (2021). Predictive Analytics of Cattle Host and Environmental and Micro-Climate Factors for Tick Distribution and Abundance at the Livestock–Wildlife Interface in the Lower Okavango Delta of Botswana. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8; DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698395.