The Department of Botany is one of the founder departments in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CoNAS) (formerly known as Faculty of Science (FoS)) established in 1965. The department is a national leader in plant science training and research. At its inception, the department had two members of academic staff, Prof. Brian Harris who was also the head of department; and Dr. Allison McCusker. Other staff included: one laboratory assistant, Mr. Bernard A.O Mponda; and one secretary, Ms. Frida Kaanani. Initially, the department was housed in the Faculty of Arts Building (the current College of Social Sciences). In November 1965, Mr. Leonard B. Mwasumbi and Mr. Jerry G. Magehema were employed as technicians. In 1967, Dr. Felix Nyahoza and Dr. Kasembe joined the department as lecturers; increasing the
number of academic staff from two to four. In the same year, the department moved from the Faculty of Arts Building to Zoology and Wildlife Conservation Building where members were accommodated on the ground floor. The Botany Department Building was constructed between 1965 and 1969. The department moved from Zoology to Botany Building in July 1969.

LEADERSHIP HISTORY - DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY