About Us

Creating a Smart & Secure Digital Future. We are a research cluster advancing digital forensics and information security for the public good—through rigorous research, industry partnerships, and community-centred innovation across Africa.
focusareas
Focus Areas
fci research areas
FCI Research Areas

Our Story

From a Small Team to a Regional Community of Practice

Founded in 2012, the Digital Forensics & Information Security Research Cluster began with a clear purpose: to make the Internet safer for civil society and government while nurturing the next generation of researchers and practitioners. Our earliest projects paired real‑world problems with academic rigor—focusing on organisational security, digital and mobile forensics, and the fast‑evolving security implications of the Internet of Things. As the threat landscape broadened, so did we. Today our work spans AI and IoT security, cloud security, human‑computer interaction security, and emerging technologies—all underpinned by a strong emphasis on community engagement. We pursue research that does not sit on a shelf: it informs policy, strengthens industry practice, and directly benefits households and public institutions across the region. Collaboration is at the heart of our model. We co‑design studies with partners in government, industry, and civil society; we supervise postgraduate research that tackles pressing local challenges; and we invest in practical outputs—from security awareness programmes and digital forensic tooling to deployment‑ready prototypes for smart water metering and other infrastructure.

What defines us? A commitment to applied, human‑centred security research—spanning child online protection, organisational resilience, digital and cloud forensics, and secure AIoT solutions for ICT4D.

Our story is still being written by a diverse team of academics, students, and practitioners who believe that a secure digital ecosystem is a public good. We will continue forging partnerships, publishing impactful work, and translating research into tangible safeguards for communities and institutions alike.

Meet Our Researchers

Our research strength comes from the people behind the work. Meet some of the dedicated researchers driving innovation in digital forensics and information security.

prof fbs

Prof Fungai Bhunu Shava

PhD IT (User Experience/Information Security),  MSc Computer Science: Cluster leader

prof mercy chitauro

Prof Mercy Chitauro

PhD Computer Science (Critical Infrastructure security), MIT

prof amg potrait

Prof Attlee M. Gamundani

PhD Computer Science, Postdoctoral Fellow (Internet of Things (IoT) & AI) Security, MSc Computer Science

nhinda

Dr Gabriel T. Nhinda

PhD Informatics (HCISec) student, MSc Business Informatics, BIT: Syst. Admin and Netw, ND: Information Technology

i nhamu

Mr Isaac Nhamu

PhD Computer Science (Cloud Forensics) student, MSc Computer Science

j silaa

Mr Julius Silaa

PhD Computer Science student  (AI  and  Security); Master of IT, PGCHE,CCNI; Digital Forensics,

schitauro

Mr Shadreck Chitauro

PhD student, Master of  Computer Science, BHons Communication Networks,Cloud computing, E governance in education, Systems security

e nepolo

Mr Edward Nepolo

PhD Candidate Machine Learning, IoT Security;MSc (Network Security), BHons Communication Networks: Network Security, InfoSec

uakomba

Mrs Uakomba Uhongora

PhD: Cybersecurity – student Master of Computer Science(Network Security) , B Compt Sc Honours Information Security, B Compt Sc Systems Administration, CCNA1

viktoria shakela

Ms Viktoria Shakela

Master of Computer Science(Network Security) , B Compt Sc Honours Information Security, B Compt Sc Systems Administration, CCNA1

Number Speaks

200+

Publications

70+

Presentations

50+

Partners

10+

Community Engagement Projects

What Our Students Have to Say

“The cluster gave me hands‑on experience with real forensic tools and projects that went far beyond the classroom.”
MSc Student, Digital Forensics
“Working alongside industry partners through the cluster helped me understand how cybersecurity research directly impacts organisations.”
– Honours Student, Cybersecurity
“Through community‑focused projects like child online protection, I learnt how technology can empower and safeguard vulnerable groups.”
– MSc Student, ICT4D & Security
“The mentorship and supervision I received prepared me not only for my thesis, but for a career in applied security research.”
– PhD Candidate, Information Security