Who We Are

Dr. Solomon Guramatunhu has over 30 years of business experience and is a leading renowned and respected Ophthalmic Surgeon in Zimbabwe and internationally and a seasoned businessman and philanthropist. He attended Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa and then proceeded to University of Zimbabwe where he obtained is medical degree. He specialized in ophthalmology and obtaining qualifications from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Royal College Surgeons of Edinburgh. His working career has seen him working for Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe holding various senior positions amongst others: Chief Government Ophthalmic Surgeon, Head of Sekuru Kaguvi Eye Unit. He has also worked in Zimbabwe for Greenwood Eye centre, University of Zimbabwe as an Honorary Lecturer, Bindura State University of Science Education, Eyes for Africa Project which he founded which offers free cataract surgeries to rural people in Zimbabwe and surrounding countries. His international work experience has been with Glasgow Group of Hospitals in Scotland, Honorary lecturer at the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr Guramatunhu is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology; International Cataract & Refractive Surgery Society and Ophthalmic Society of Southern Africa. He is a Founder and Past President of the Ophthalmological Society of Zimbabwe.

Dr Guramatunhu is a seasoned and successful businessman and philanthropist of note having multiple businesses that include Greenwood Park Eye Centre and SG Luxury Apartments. Some of his awards are as follows;

• National Arts Merit Awards - Lifetime Award for support of Arts
• Zimbabwe Medical Awards – Lifetime Award for Contribution to Medicine in Zimbabwe
• Alfred Beit Scholarships – Academic Merit
• Paul Harris Fellowship – Rotary International for Contribution to Eye Care in Zimbabwe
• Research Council of Zimbabwe- Merit contribution to Ophthalmology
• International Education Award – American Academy of Ophthalmology • Humanitarian Award – V50 RAISA
• National Contributor of the year – Zimbabwe Institute of Management • African Leadership Legend 2022
• Lifetime Achievement Award in Business Leadership and Community Development 2020 by the Zimbabwe Business Awards
• Businessman of the Year Health and Medical Services 2020 by the Zimbabwe Business Awards
• Outstanding Health Professional Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 by the Zimbabwe Community News
• Manager of The Year 2007 by the Zimbabwe Institute of Management.

He is a Rotarian, former Chairman of Bindura University of Science Education, Baines 24 Hour Emergency Rooms, and is the current chairman of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. He is also Patron of various organizations amongst them, ZIMCARE TRUST, which raises funds for schools for the blind and deaf and the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust.

Ms. Lorraine Sanyika (OA ABDO) is the company’s Operations Manager. She has over 20years’ experience in the optical industry and has a Diploma in Optical Retail Management which she attained from the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (UK) .She is currently working towards completing her qualification in BSc Ophthalmic Dispensing with the same institution.

Lorraine started off her career in Optics in 2001 as an optical assistant for Martin Jones Optometrists before joining Premier Medical Investments (PSMI) Optometry.  She has vast experience in the optical industry and IT industry where she qualified as an HP Accredited sales professional and joined Computer Centre Tanzania as a corporate sales executive before being promoted to their corporate sales manager in less than 2years of joining the organisation, a position she held after taking a break from Optics between 2007 and 2010. Her passion for optics saw her returning to the profession in 2011 where she later joined Provision Optometrists as a practice controller a position she held before joining the Optinova family in 2014 as one of their pioneers, with only four branches and by 2022 she has seen the organisation expand to 10 branches.

Over the years she has helped Optinova develop into a world class brand by helping them rebrand and offering offers quality service and products. In 2020 Optinova was awarded Company of the year Health and Medical services and was named among the Zimbabwe top brands of the year by the Zimbabwe Business Awards Council. Lorraine was also awarded Top Business leader of the Year Health and Medical Services 2020 by the same institution.

Dr. Leaveson Thom has a BSc in Optometry from Mzuzu University in Malawi as well as an MSc in Optometry from University of KwaZulu Natal South Africa, he has been practicing for over 9 years in both Public and private practice.

A former Team leader at PSMI (Premier Service Medical Investment) who believes in team work, professionalism, hard work and integrity joined Optinova eye care on 1st March 2021 as their Head Optometrist. Thom once worked with Malawian Government and Taught at Mzuzu University before he joined private practice in 2017. He has vast experience in Ocular health management, refraction, contact lenses, low vision and geriatric optometry. Over the years, he has published two research papers in peer reviewed research journals and has won awards as best practitioner with his previous employers.

At Optinova Eye care, Thom practices at the Avondale branch and Zimplats branch whilst managing the rest of his team players in all practices in Zimbabwe. With sophisticated equipment and dedicated staff which Optinova eye care has, Thom enjoys providing comprehensive eye care services and he is specialising in Contact lenses especially for Keratoconus patients.

Chitani George Kasonga has a BSc in Optometry from Mzuzu University is a hardworking, team player, dedicated with highest level of integrity, a caring person who loves to help people see their best.

He is a qualified Senior Optometrist with 9 years working experience in both private and public hospitals both in Malawi and Zimbabwe. Chitani once worked with Malawi government and served as head of eye department in different district hospitals in Malawi.

He joined Optinova Eye care in October, 2021 where he provides comprehensive eye services among them; Refraction, Contact Lens Clinics, Low Vision Clinics, Glaucoma, cataracts and other advanced eye disease clinic, Binocular vision anomalies Clinics and all eye related systemic diseases, co management with other Medical doctors. Based on his experience, learned scientific knowledge and the state of art equipment that Optinova Eastgate has, he makes important decisions with confidence and help the patients the best way as far as eye related conditions are concerned. Mostly interested in managing visual occupation anomalies, binocular vision anomalies, eye strains, migraine headaches, which most people experience because of the nature of their work or studies that affect eyes.

Limbani Bester Kalonga (BSc Optom) is a graduate of Mzuzu University in 2017 with a bachelor’s of science degree in Optometry. One year internship at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, then joined Medical Aid Society of Malawi (MASM) ophthalmology Specialist clinic under platinum Health. Worked in public hospital before joining Optinova Eye Care March of 2022, with more than three year working experience. Currently membership director of Malawi Optometry Association (MOA).

Wyson Thomson studied at Mzuzu University in Malawi. He graduated in 2019 with Bachelor of Science in Optometry (Honours) First Class. He did one year internship at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (one of referral hospitals in Malawi). He has vast experience in refraction, managing ocular conditions and detecting systemic diseases that have negative impact on vision such as diabetes and hypertension. He has worked in Public and private clinics before joining Optinova in October 2021. He has over 2 years’ experience in the field of optometry.