Journalist Garikai Chaunza appointed AUSS-SA Co-Chair

Dr. Garikai Chaunza, a postdoctoral fellow at Rhodes University and a renowned Zimbabwean journalist and media activist, has been appointed Co‑Chair of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the African University Seminar Series – South Africa (AUSS‑SA). This appointment recognises his exceptional qualifications and his commitment to promoting research, academic collaboration, and knowledge production across the continent.

Chaunza’s career spans nearly two decades of media activism, resistance journalism, and community‑centred storytelling. Before entering academia, he worked as a journalist for international outlets such as ZBC, Radio VOP, and Deutsche Welle, covering press‑freedom violations, political repression, and community struggles. From 2015 to 2021 he served as Chair of the MISA Zimbabwe Harare Committee, leading campaigns for community‑radio licensing, legal defence for journalists, and media reform.

Currently, Chaunza teaches radio and audio studies at Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, where he also supervises postgraduate students. His doctoral research, “Activist Radio and the Struggle to Empower Audiences,” examined how underground radio and alternative audio platforms challenge state narratives in hybrid regimes. He holds a PhD in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University, along with several other degrees and certifications, and is a recipient of the SSRC Next Generation Social Sciences Fellowship.

In his new role as LOC Co‑Chair, Chaunza will convene scholars, practitioners, and alumni for national seminars, promoting equity, diversity, and representation across South African institutions. He will coordinate academic panels, mobilise university partners, and help build an APDD alumni network grounded in African perspectives. This aligns with his advocacy for decolonial media education, community storytelling, and African‑led communication research.

The AUSS‑SA initiative aims to strengthen a self‑organised intellectual community capable of shaping national and regional research agendas. With Chaunza at the helm, the program is poised to promote innovative and inclusive approaches to media education and research in South Africa. As LOC Co‑Chair, he will play a key role in shaping the future of African media studies and fostering collaborative knowledge production across the continent.