A tribute to Professor Zacarias Alexandre Ombe, honoring his Chair at Licungo University in Beira

Paulo Vilanculo"

Licungo University names the Auditorium of the Ponta-Gêa Campus in the city of Beira after Professor Dr. Zacarias Alexandre Ombe, an emotional and well-deserved tribute that will immortalize his name, legacy, academic contribution, and leadership of the memorable Beira Delegation of the former Pedagogical University of Mozambique, now the Beira extension of Licungo University based in Quelimane. In a solemn ceremony, the tribute brings together the academic community, government officials, and prominent figures of Mozambican society. Professor Dr. Zacarias Alexandre Ombe, in his Bachelor's and Licentiate degrees, completed his basic training in the areas of Geography Education and related sciences. He pursued a Master's degree in Geography, and in this postgraduate training, he focused his scientific research on socio-environmental dynamics, landscape ecology, Mozambican land use planning, and soil geography. He earned his PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies from the prestigious institution.University of the Witwatersrand, located in Johannesburg, South Africa in the year 2006.

The reverence shown to Professor Zacarias Ombe is a profound respect for his legacy. He has been a professor and researcher at the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences of the Pedagogical University of Maputo since 2009. His qualifications underpin his long teaching career as an Associate Professor at the university.Pedagogical University of Maputoand his prominent formative role at the Beira Delegation. He is recognized as one of the pioneers and university managers in the central region of the country in the city and delegation of Beira. He held the positions of Faculty Director, Director of the Beira Delegation of the Pedagogical University, and Director of the Doctoral School in Geography. Professor Dr. Zacarias Alexandre Ombe is an influential figure in the training of several geographers and teachers in Mozambique in the areas of research, dedicating himself to geography, tourism and environment, territorial and urban planning, climate change, geodiversity, and environmental analysis.

The tribute not only celebrates the career of the illustrious geographer, researcher, and former head of delegation, but also recognizes his pioneering role in building and consolidating public higher education in the central region of the country. His thesis, the doctoral research chair, and his doctoral research chair serve as the basis for his most profound contributions in the area of ​​nature conservation and regional geodiversity in the context of Southern Africa. The term "chair" has historical origins in European universities and is linked to the idea of ​​"chair" (from the Latin cathedra), which refers to the place of authority reflected in Professor Dr. Zacarias Ombe. A chair is an area of ​​study led by a highly qualified professor, a scientific authority in a specific area with a high level of academic recognition, assuming the leadership role in coordinating courses, projects, lines of research, and relevant scientific production, such as articles, books, thesis supervision, or, in many cases, implies responsibility for research, student supervision, and knowledge production. In some modern contexts, "chair" can also refer to research programs or centers within specialized academic units within a university.

Professor Zacarias Alexandre Ombe's main books and reference works focus on the systematization of concepts in physical geography, environmental management, and nature conservation in Mozambique. Among these, the following stand out: "Some Aspects of the History of Nature Conservation in Mozambique" (1996, Escolar Editora): co-authored with Alberto Fungulane; and "Geography of Soils: Dictionary of Main Concepts," 2007, Editora Educar – UP, published in partnership with Sabil Damião Mandala and Apolinário Joaquim Malauene Nhamposse. His written legacy and scientific impact also reside in his chapters in collective books and structuring scientific articles for land use planning, published in leading scientific journals in the areas of Geosciences and Urban Development.

In a university, a professorship is essentially a high-level academic position associated with teaching, research, and intellectual leadership in a specific area of ​​knowledge, as is the case with Professor Zacarias Alexandre Ombe. Naming the Ponta-Gêa Auditorium after Professor Zacarias Alexandre Ombe transcends the institutional act, representing a genuine tribute to the professorship at Licungo University in Beira and a landmark in the preservation of Mozambican intellectual memory. By placing the name of one of its greatest intellectual figures at the heart of the university infrastructure, the institution reaffirms the enduring value of scientific knowledge and teaching dedication in the training of generations of professionals committed to sustainable development and territorial planning in Mozambique. Well done, Professor Zacarias Alexandre Ombe!

2025/12/3