Makhubu, Lydia (1937–)
Makhubu, Lydia (1937–)
Swazi medical researcher and chemist. Name variations: Lydia Phindile Makhubu. Born July 1, 1937, at the Usuthu Mission in Swaziland; studied mathematics and chemistry at Pius XII College in Lesotho Co., Swaziland (BS, 1963); University of Alberta, MA, 1967; University of Toronto, PhD in medicinal chemistry, 1973; m. Daniel Mbatha (surgeon); children: 2.
First Swazi woman to earn a doctorate and one of the 1st females in southern Africa to serve as a high-ranking university official, studied at University of Alberta, Edmonton, on a Canadian Commonwealth scholarship; at University of Swaziland, worked as lecturer in chemistry department (1973), senior lecturer (1979), dean of science faculty (1976–80), full professor (1980), pro-vice-chancellor (1978), and vice-chancellor (1988); established and served as president of Royal Swaziland Society of Science and Technology (1977); served as co-founder (1989), president (1993), and first chair of Third World Organization of Women in Science (TWOWS); studied and preserved medical effects and chemical nature of plants used by Swazi healers; was 1st woman to head Association of Commonwealth Universities (1989–90).