During the night of 20 July, our colleague Dr. Abel Chemura passed on in his homeland, Zimbabwe at the age 43. Abel was part of the Department of Natural Resources at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) since 2023.
Abel’s health had been a concern for some months. In recent weeks, he had been feeling a bit better, therefore, he took the opportunity to visit his family and friends in Zimbabwe, together with his wife and three young boys. And there, being home, close to his family and friends, he passed on.
Abel was a passionate scientist and teacher who approached his work with genuine excitement and a desire to make the world a better place. At ITC, Abel worked on Modelling sustainable food systems and climate–smart agriculture, or as he would say, “growing crops in a computer.” This phrase reflected his remarkable ability to explain complex ideas with simplicity and clarity. His work on food systems and climate-smart agriculture reached people in South Africa, Zambia, Jordan, Ghana, and beyond.
His appointment at ITC as an Assistant Professor was not the first time Abel joined our community. He first came to ITC in 2010 for his MSc in the GEM programme, where he stood out for his positive energy and ambition, publishing on his MSc research soon after graduation —a rare achievement. We enjoyed welcoming him back to ITC as a colleague, where he brought the same warmth and dedication that had characterised his earlier years here.
Abel was an inspiring teacher with a unique and engaging style that captured and held students’ attention. His dedication did not go unnoticed; this year, he was nominated for Teacher of the Year 2025. His students valued not only his knowledge but also his kindness and approachability, forming bonds with him that extended beyond the classroom.
Looking back at Abel’s MSc application letter from 2009, it is clear how much he accomplished. He wrote of his ambition to combine research in climate change and socio-economic mapping with a lecturing career to share and disseminate knowledge. In every way, Abel fulfilled this mission, using his expertise to guide and inspire, and his warm presence to connect with others.
Abel’s warm personality, sharp mind, creativity and sincere care for others made him an exceptional colleague, mentor and friend. He was someone who made every interaction meaningful and brought out the best in those around him. We will deeply miss Abel. His light will continue to shine through the students he inspired and the research he advanced.
On the online memorial site https://www.memori.nl/gedenkplaats/abel-chemura, there is the possibility to leave a condolence
Our thoughts are with Abel’s family and we wish his close colleagues much strength in this difficult time. On behalf of the entire University of Twente, the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) and on behalf of his colleagues at Natural Resources.
