CUZ ePublications (Catholic University of Zimbabwe)
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Transitional Justice: The Evolution of an Essential Component of Post-Conflict Peace Building Processes
Full text linkThe term transitional justice has become synonymous with contemporary post-conflict peacebuilding processes. The concept evolved from modest theoretical assumptions into distinctivemodels. The formal origins of the transitional justice concept can be traced to the 1990s, following the demise of the Eastern Communist bloc when nations experienced transition from autocratic to democratic rule. The roots of the concept can however be traced back to major peace settlements such as the Congress of Vienna (1815), the Paris Peace Settlement (1918) and the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials after 1945. The major challenge it faced was acceptability and legitimacy; it was largely viewed as an instrument devised invariably to punish either the vanquished or the perceived perpetrators. This criticism may have informed the concept’s evolution from being a vindictive ‘victor’s justice’ seeker into defined frameworks such as criminal tribunals, commissions and courts. This paradigm shift was evidenced by the United Nations’ recognition of the framework and its deployment in Yugoslavia (1993), Rwanda (1994) and Sierra Leone (2002). Arguably, success story of these case studies’ motivated the formation of the International Criminal Court in 2003. The paper will underscore the importance of contexts in the choice of transitional options
NARRATIVES OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: CONSPIRACIES, PROPHESIES, PUNISHMENT, CURSE, REMEDIES, STIGMA AND PREJUDICE
Full text linkThis article draws attention to the narrative discourses and interpretations of coronavirus (COVID-19), on social media, with the objective to proffer knowledge for decision making in responding to the pandemic in the Zimbabwean context. The study employs qualitative research methods of text analysis and relies on descriptive techniques in the analysis of those narratives of the pandemic. Narratives were categorized into four domains :-( a) conspiracy theories, (b) prophesies:punishment or curse, (c) remedies, and (d) stigma and prejudice. As evidenced in a number of narratives, the study established that the current COVID-19 outbreak is spurring fear on a societal as well as on an individual level. It is steadfastly giving entrenched ways of seeing the world as a violent place. The study has taken the position that the rumors that are circulating are as a result of lack of accurate and consistent information and messages. Luckily, the fears inspired by conspiracy theories now exist in parallel with knowledge of how the virus is transmitted; hence people understand that COVID-19 is real. People are increasingly realizing that the coronavirus infects all human beings,regardless of race or socio-economic standing. The study suggests that Individuals need to be enlightened that the coronavirus, and any other views that instigate a form of discrimination, should not be condoned. The study hopes that the post-COVID-19 narrative will embrace a third truth, that people may care about others in negative as well as positive ways
INSIGHTS ON TEACHING DURING A PANDEMIC: THE CASE OF THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS COURSE AT ONE UNIVERSITY IN ZIMBABWE
Full text linkAs suggested in the title, this is a conceptual paper that discusses the issues on teaching and assisting students to learn during the novel COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a health issue, but it is also a social and economic phenomenon. This paper seeks to interrogate how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted teaching and learning in one university in Zimbabwe. The COVID-19 pandemic and its ramifications caught the global community unawares, including the higher education community which had to quickly shift from face-to-face lectures to online teaching and learning by an unprepared faculty and to an equally unprepared student body. The pandemic, therefore, ushered in a new ‘normal’ where lecturers and students are required to adapt to online teaching and learning using different platforms as dictated by the available resources. The paper will reflect on the challenges and opportunities for online teaching and learning in the university during the COVID-19 era and beyond the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is a new phenomenon which is still unfolding and hence no firm conclusions can be made yet. The methods that were employed in this paper are insights by the researchers who are the lecturers of the Professional Communication Skills course, which is a university-wide course. This paper is relevant insofar as it will provide evidence-based information on the disruptions to teaching and learning caused by the pandemic which will be useful for informing future strategies and measures for online teaching and learnin
COVID-19 AND GIRL CHILD EDUCATION: PARENTAL PERSPECTIVES.
Full text linkThis paper argues that COVID-19 lockdowns negatively affected the education of many young girls in rural Zimbabwe, particularly those who ran into teenage marriages; because they had no other alternative productive activities to occupy them during school closures. Had there been other educational activities like readily available online lessons, community clubs, access to internet and many more activities which their urban counterparts are enjoying, less numbers of child marriages could have been recorded. The paper interviewed some parents from rural areas (Gokwe and Chirumanzu), on the state of affairs and discovered that 7 in every 10 families interviewed had their teenage girl married or had unwanted pregnancies before marriage. The paper recommends that mitigation measures should be taken so that young girls are kept in school as long as possible despite quagmires like the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). Without sustainable programs for girls and boys in rural and urban areas, the gains yet to be achieved by all legislation promoting gender equality in education, the education Amendment Act 2020 and other intervention strategies from Non-Governmental Organisations like Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) which are paying school fees for girls in more than 29 districts of rural Zimbabwe will go to waste. Efforts should therefore be made through a multistakeholder approach to keep girls in school against any odds
The Use of Mobile Computing in Technical and Vocational Education Institutions
Full text linkThe motive for this study was to assess how polytechnic students and lecturers were using mobile computing devices for teaching and learningm both inside and outside the classroom and how actual student use compares to lecturers’ perceptions of student use. The researchers used Gweru Polytechnic and Kwekwe Polytechnic as case studies and data was collected through interviews and questionnaires administered to lecturersand students. The findings revealed that the implementation of mobile learning in polytechnics had some challenges including internet connectivity and high mobile data costs. While lecturers believed that students were primarily using mobile devices to socialize, students reported that they were performing a wide variety of educational tasks. Although some lecturers banned the use of mobile devices in the classroom and prefer mobile learning to remain outside the classroom, students believed that more formal uses both inside and outside the classroom could be beneficial. Students seemed more ready to fully adopt the use of mobile devices for learning while lecturers are somewhat concerned that devices may be distracting and limiting. The researchers recommend increased dialogue amongst stakeholders about the learning opportunities available through mobile devices
The Usefulness of Indigenous Plants and Vegetables in contemporary Society.
Full text linkIndigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) is tacit knowledge available to local people of any community which can be used in all sectors of life and development. This knowledge is passed from generation to generation through oral tradition, song, and dance. The invasion of traditional societies through colonization, modernization, and globalization has threatened the resilience of IKS and some literature argues that it is being driven into extinction. This paper argues that Indigenous knowledge Systems are undeniably resistant and resilient as evidenced by the continuous inevitable use of indigenous plant varieties in Africa and the rest of the world during outbreaks of pandemics like COVID-19 and even use in the day-to-day treatment of humans and domestic animals. Using individual telephone interviews, a teleconference focus group with rural and urban key informants from Chirumanzu District, Gokwe District, and Harare North lowdensity residential area, the paper discovered twenty-four (24) indigenous plant varieties, 5 non-indigenous plants, and 5 indigenous vegetables which people are using to improve health systems and strengthens the lungs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The same plant varieties have been used in everyday life even before the outbreak of the current pandemic, indicating their undeniable usefulness in the lives of people. The paper, therefore,recommends that more research should be done and literature should be written on the role of these different plant varieties so that the knowledge is kept safe and readily available for future generations. Documentation is very critical as a migratory measure against the extinction of the crucial role of indigenous knowledge system
The State of Children’s Rights and Initiatives to Protect Them in Zimbabwe
Full text linkThis paper argues that Zimbabwe has adequate legislation (local and international) to deliver and protect children’s rights, but that what is lacking is putting such legislation into practice
Challenges Women face in Accessing the Benefits of Development Policies in Rural Areas: A case of Gokwe District in Zimbabwe
No full textThis paper examines the challenges women face in accessing the benefits of development policies in remote rural areas like Gokwe district. Rural women can be effective at increasing national development growth rates if they are included in development policy formulation, planning and implementation phases. However, their contribution is not significant because they are excluded from mainstream development activities. The study employed a mixed methods approach to identifying the challenges that rural women face in accessing development policy benefits. Using Gokwe as a case study the researcher administered 260 questionnaires to participants in the district in addition to 8 focus group discussions comprising 10 participants each during the period May 2020 and May 2021. The results showed that rural women are aware of the challenges which deter them from accessing development policy benefits. These challenges include lack of education on the part of the women, strict traditional structures, lack of supporting legislation, and male dominance amongst others. The paper recommends that Government should continue formulating inclusive policies specifically meant for women. Strict monitoring and evaluation at all stages of project formulation and implementation should be observed so that maximum development policy gains can be realised for rural women. In addition, some development programs can be introduced for both boys and girls right from high school so that women’s empowerment starts earlier in their lives
Effects of Turbulent Environments on Business Strategies: A Case of Zimbabwe’s Petroleum Industry
Full text linkThe purpose of this paper was to explore the business strategies that petroleum firms in Zimbabwe are using in the face of the turbulent operating environment. The aim of the study was to find out the competitive strategies being adopted and implemented by oil firms for survival. Other objectives were to establish how the strategies being executed by the oil companies were influencing sales revenues, profitability, and survival of companies in the sector and also to determine how government policy interventions are impacting the deployment of the strategies. And to recommend strategies that can be adopted by the petroleum firms during unstable economic environments. The research used an exploratory-sequential mixed methods research design where qualitative and quantitative data were collected separately. Findings from interviews were used to provide a basis for the collection of a second set of data using questionnaires. The research findings reveal that petroleum businesses face high regulation, price instability and heavy political control due to the strategic nature of the oil sector to the Zimbabwe government. The issue of high taxation and frequent changes to regulations in the sector are the main causes of uncertainty to operations of these firms. The research findings indicate that most petroleum companies in Zimbabwe are using the Cost Leadership Strategy for competitive advantage and survival
Early Childhood Teaching and Learning in Zimbabwe – A Critical Analysis
Full text linkThe main aim of this article was to critically examine Early Childhood Education (ECD) teaching and learning provision in Zimbabwe, with the challenges and successes thereof. The approaches and focus of early learning education and provision during the three different epochs of Zimbabwe’s history, which are pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial were analysed. The study used a qualitative research methodology based on document analysis and further employed historical research design to obtain data on the evolution of Early Childhood Education in Zimbabwe. The challenges and success of post-independence Early Childhood Education were presented and recommendations were given