1358 research outputs found
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An assessment of the effectiveness of the regulatory tools in managing bank failures in Zimbabwe: Case of Interfin and Royal Bank
No full textThe continued failure of banks in Zimbabwe has left thousands of depositors stranded and reduced economic activity of the country. The stability and public confidence in the banking sector has also been eroded by the failure to effectively manage bank failures. The failure of banks has reduced the attractiveness of the country to foreign investment. The study looks at the effectiveness of the regulatory toolkit that the authorities have been using in the face of repeating bank failures.
The Zimbabwean banking sector has experienced over twenty six bank failures since independence. The study looked at a case study of Interfin Banking Corporation and Royal Bank that failed and the regulatory tools used to resolve them. Data was gathered from interviews with regulatory authorities and the curators of the failed banks.
The study established that effectiveness of the resolution tools was mainly affected by the provisions in the existing legal frameworks. As a result, the speed and finality of resolution efforts have been thwarted by legal battles and regulatory forbearance. There are no frameworks for other tools such as open bank assistance, purchase and assumption, and bridge banks to manage or resolve failing banks. Bank failures in Zimbabwe is predominantly a result liquidity challenges, poor risk management practices and weak corporate governance structure. The main players in the regulations and management of failed banks are the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Deposit Protection Corporation
Accuracy of the kato-katz method in diagnosis of s.mansoni and soil transmitted helminths infection in Zimbabwe.
No full textIntroduction: Mapping of schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths infection in Zimbabwe was prioritized for evidence based treatment control strategy in year 2010. Two diagnostics tests: Kato-Katz (KK) and fomol ether concentration (FEC) were used during the mapping process.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Kato-Katz technique in the absence of a gold standard using Bayesian modelling for the determination of S. mansoni and soil transmitted helminths infection (STHs) in Zimbabwe.
Methods: This is a secondary data analysis based on primary school children (n=15 818) aged 10-15 years who were enrolled in the national mapping of S. mansoni and STHs study, since they were reported to be the most exposed age group. Both parasitic infection by S. mansoni and STHs were diagnosed using a combination of two diagnostic techniques: the Kato Katz technique and the formol-ether concentration technique. A Bayesian approach was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the evaluation tool.
Results: The formol ether diagnostic technique was generally more sensitive with S. mansoni detection operational characteristics as follows (Sensitivity: 0.995; 95% Bayesian Credible Interval (BCI): 0.989 - 0.999), STHs- Hookworm detection (Sensitivity: 0.991; 95% BCI;0.988 - 0.993 ) , STHs– A. lumbricoides detection (Sensitivity:0.992; 95% BCI;0.989 - 0.995) and STHs– T. trichiuria (Sensitivity:0.988 95% BCI: 0.926 - 1.00); than the Kato- Katz diagnostic technique (for S. mansoni detection (Sensitivity: 0.981; 95% BCI:0.971 - 0.994), STHs - Hookworm detection (Sensitivity:0.966; 95% BCI;0.963 - 0.970) , STHs – A. lumbricoides detection (Sensitivity: 0.967; 95% BCI;0.974-0.981) and STHs – T. trichiuria (Sensitivity:0.988; 95% BCI;0.974 - 0.981). However, specificity is higher for the Kato- Katz technique compared to the formol ether concentration technique.
Conclusion: The formol ether concentration technique has better sensitivity compared to the Kato-Katz technique, but however it has less specificity compared to the formol ether concentration technique. been shown for the Kato – Katz technique for all the infections respectively
An assessment of factors influencing the growth in market share of mobile money business in the Zimbabwean mobile network providers
No full textMobile money business is a new phenomenon, which has transformed the lives of the previously financially excluded poor people especially in developing nations. The industry is continuing to grow rapidly, with increased business success stories being recorded. The purpose of this study was to make an assessment of the factors influencing the growth in market share of mobile money in the Zimbabwean mobile phone providers. The motivation of this study is to give insights to current players and new players entering such an industry, so that they are able to be in a position to make informed strategic decisions. The study adopted a quantitative deductive research approach and survey design, in which the Harare CBD agents from the three mobile network providers constituted the population of the study. A combination of stratified and simple random sampling methods was used to select the agents. Stratified random sampling was selected to allow agents from all the operators to have the opportunity of being sampled. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The results revealed that all the factors influence the growth in market share of mobile money, among the factors analysed such as the strong financial resource, customer base, strong agent network, network coverage and pricing strategy, the factor with the greatest influence was the financial resource factor, and the least was network coverage. It is recommended that the Central bank, RBZ and POTRAZ should put a regulatory framework in place for the mobile payment system to curb against monopoly and anti-competitive agreements in this industry. The study also recommended that mobile operators who are in this industry or who may wish to venture into this industry be financially sound as the business needs a lot of investment in terms of customer acquisition, agent training and management, network coverage, without which there is no growth in market share in the mobile money business
The determinants of foreign direct investment in SADC countries: The role of bilateral investment treaties (1990-2013)
No full textThe study empirically examines the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries with special focus on the
impact of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) using annual data from 1990-2013. The study uses panel data for fourteen SADC countries and applies fixed effects panel methodology to
examine the impact of both signing and ratifying BITs on FDI inflows into the region.
Arguably, developing countries conclude these agreements in order to attract the muchn needed capital to their economies. Econometric results reveal that ratified BITs have positive impact on FDI inflows into the SADC region. Only signing BITs without operationalizing them does not promote FDI inflows into the region. The study recommends that policy makers in the SADC region should ratify the signed BITs within reasonable time frame to show their commitment in promoting FDI inflows in their respective countries. The results also suggest that policy makers should adhere to the provisions of these BITs to increase confidence in them among foreign investors and in the process minimize litigation in case of investor-state disputes arising.ZEPARU and SER
The impact of mining activities on local people and environment: A case study of Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation operations in Chiadzwa, Marange
No full textMining is indispensable to the economic development of countries endowed with mineral
resources. At the same time the effects the mining activities on the local people and the
environment have also been wide spread in these economies. While the contributions of
mining in Zimbabwe is adequately appreciated, the impact of mining activities has also
received its fair share of criticism especially from the general public.
The research investigates the impact of ZMDC mining activities on the people of Chiadzwa
as well as the environment. The research adopted a case study model that covered the entire
Chiadzwa community. Seven villages and two ZMDC companies were covered for data
required for the study. A total of seventy respondents were contacted for relevant data
through questionnaire administration. The researcher also carried out field observations in
order to verify and supplement the data collected from questionnaires.
The research encountered some challenges. Among the constraints faced included the
perceived sensitiveness given to diamond data and information. Data collection problems
included bias and reluctance to complete questionnaires. The research supplemented data
collection through use of field observations which also worked as a way to mitigate data
collection problems.
The research revealed that mining activities negatively impact the environment as well as
the social footprint of the Chiadzwa people.
Environment effects emanating from the mining activities include land degradation and
pollution. Vast tracks of land which were original meant for farming have now been cleared
and made bare as part of the mining process thereby affecting food production in the area.
Pollution on the other hand affected mainly the water bodies in the area with Save river
being the worst polluted.
Mining activities were also found to be a source of social discontent in the Chiadzwa
community. Some of the problems included appropriation of land belonging to the local
people which severely affected food security within the community. Mining have also
impacted negatively on health, altered social relations, created unemployment as well as
promoting social ills that included prostitution and crime.
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The ZMDC companies have reacted to the noted effects of their mining activities on the
local people and the environment. Their initiatives included reforestation, providing
alternative sources of water, employing people from the local community as well as
relocating some of the affected people. The initiatives were however considered
unsatisfactory, ineffective and inadequate especially given the benefits these companies are
deriving from diamond mining.
In view of the above, it has been recommended that ZMDC companies should engage the
community on issues affecting them in order to come up with more effective ways of
solving the problems being caused by mining activities. It is also recommended that
companies should honour various promises made to the community that acted as licences to
mine. Companies should also ensure that all affected people are relocated to designated
areas as well as ensuring that the community benefits from their infrastructure for example
electricity
Effects of different frequencies of loading on healing in partial rupture of the achilles tendon in a rat model
No full textObjective: To determine the histological effects of different frequencies of loading in a healing Achilles tendon following partial rupture.
Design: Experimental laboratory study.
Setting: University of Zimbabwe, Department of Physiology, Animal house.
Subjects: Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats
Intervention: Partial tenotomies of the right Achilles tendon were performed surgically. From day 1 post operatively, the animals were allocated to treadmill running at different frequencies (once (OD), two (BD), three (TDS) and four(QID) times daily) up to 21 days. Histological sides of the tendons were made at days 7,14 and 21 and interpreted by a blinded pathologist
Main Outcome Measures: Collagen fibre orientation, inflammatory cell populations, fibroblast morphology and neoangiogenesis were observed and scored using the Grande Biomechanical Histological Correlation Score.
Results: Mean weight was 209.67g ±30.14. The best and worst arrangements of collagen were in the QID group (73%) and OD group (46.7%) respectively. These differences were not statistically significant (p=0.487). The BD group had the most mature fibroblast nuclei and the QID tendons had the least mature (p=0.577). Inflammatory cell populations were independent of loading frequency (p=0.132).
Conclusion: Changing the frequency of the same type of loading in a healing tendon does not have an effect on the healing process in partially ruptured Achilles tendons during the inflammatory and proliferative
Phases
An investigation into the source of quality failure in the beverages industry: A case of Delta Corporation
No full textThis study was an investigation into the sources of quality failure in the Beverages industry, a case of Delta Beverages. This research was important to Delta Beverages as it was establishing the source of quality defects for Delta Beverages in the form of consumer complaints and product defects. This meant taking a more proactive role with regards to quality and ensuring that quality assurance was implemented to control losses due to non-quality. The objectives of the study were to establish whether materials used in Beverage manufacture is the source of quality defects. Investigate if machinery and maintenance is the source of quality defects for the beverages industry, establish the relationship between personnel, management and quality defects production, and establish the relationship between Quality systems, methods and quality defects.
Methodology used in the study was quantitative approach that emphasises testing theories or concepts through variable metric measurement and performing data analysis procedure with statistical tools and aim to test the hypothesis. Structured questionnaires were used for the data collection where sampling technique used was stratum, in which respondents came from different departments of Delta Beverages. There was an 89% overall response rate Research results were presented, analysed, interpreted and discussed, data was presented using table, cross tabulations, bar graphs.
Data analysis was done using SPSS Statistical processing for social science software. The research’s response rate was high and therefore the sample was a representative. My research showed that the Cronbach’s alpha for all the objectives Machinery, material, methods and manpower in relation to quality failure in the research study were ranging between 0.7 to 0.9 showing a strong relationship between the 6Ms and quality failure. Chi-Square and Cramer’s V Tests showed a strong relationship for production, engineering with regards to frequency of quality failure while a weak relationship for sales and procurement.
Conclusions of the study was that the 6M thus material, machinery, man power and methods are indeed the source of quality failure Recommendations on material quality processing were that the quality and procurement department should carry out unannounced supplier quality surveillance audit. Machine recommendation was that the Engineering department must carry out effective maintenance scheduling and adherence tracking. Quality methods recommendations were alignment of sales department, engineering, packaging and procurements focus on customer feedback, bench marking with the best in class quality control at source implementation and evaluation in each department