CUZ ePublications (Catholic University of Zimbabwe)
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Just War or Just Peace? An Examination of Two Christian Approaches to the Problem of War and Violence
Full text linkThis paper examines, compares and contrasts the just war theory with a non-violent alternative. It documents the historical development of both theories, culminating in a recent conference that was held in Rome under the leadership of Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and Marie Dennis, Co-President of Pax Christi International. The paper advances arguments by the proponents of each theory and examines papal pronouncements on the subject. The case of Zimbabwe during the liberation war serves as an example of the use of the just war theory by missioners who supported the liberation struggle. On the other hand, examples of non-violent resolution of conflict in other parts of the world offer an alternative approach. The paper quotes the recent statement that was issued at the end of the Rome Conference that contains a proposal for a papal encyclical on the issue. While putting forward the pros and cons for each point of view, the paper does not take sides but raises questions for further reflection and discussion
Conflicts and Forced Migration: Reflections and Recommendations
Full text linkForced migration has become a challenge of our time. Since the end of the Cold War, an increasing number of people has been forced to leave their homes as a result of armed conflict, internal strife, and systematic violations of human rights. Africa in particular has seen a lot of its people displaced both internally and externally. Therefore, there is need to reflect on the causes and impact of forced migration. This essay seeks to reflect on the connection between conflict and forced migration particularly in Africa. The essay also suggests strategies for preventing further displacement
Natural Disasters and Development Opportunities: Cyclone Idai, challenges, integration and development alternatives in Zimbabwe and sub-Saharan Africa in the New Millennium
Full text linkStating the geophysical atmospheric conditions relating to Cyclone Idai and the impact it had on human and wild life, infrastructure and the economy, this study gives a definition and the challenges engendered by that disaster while proffering development alternatives for Zimbabwe and Sub Saharan Africa in general. Best articulated from a climate change dialogue perspective, cyclones and anticyclones constitute vibrant atmospheric processes or wind systems characterized by extreme weather conditions and patterns that have contrasting attributes. A cyclone can be described as a low-pressure system, whereas an anticyclone is a high-pressure system. Effectively, a cyclone, commonly known as a low, constitutes an area of low pressure where air masses meet and rise. The low, which typifies a cyclone, indicates bad weather, like heavy rain, hail andthunderstorms. As such winds in a cyclone blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. With respect to an anticyclone which is commonly referred to as a high, it constitutes an area of high pressure where air drifts apart and sinks, effectively indicating fair or fine weather. Because of the effective impact of the force related to the rotation of the earth, winds in an anticyclone blow clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Depending on the magnitude of the low (low pressure area) and the high (high pressure area) both wind systems could be catastrophic for human life, assets, domesticated animals, wild life and the economy in general. Such was the impact of Cyclone Idai. The study is developed around several key questions relating to the origin of cyclones, zonation, disaster management phases, transformation opportunities, impact on rural and urban communities and post cyclone industrialization and infrastructure development. Grounded in the theory of disaster management and transformation, the work employs descriptive and quantitative data analysis as well as qualitative data analysis and modelling. Contributions by Claire Gillespie (2018); Zimmermann and Stössel (2011); Van der Waldt (2013); Tau, Niekerk and Becker (2016); Contreras (2016) are central to this study. Considering the preparedness phase as critical in responding to cyclones, this contribution proffers alternatives that are more preventive, catastrophe evading strategies which could have been adopted by stakeholders as a measure to guarantee zero life loss and minimum property loss in the event of a warning issued ofan impending cyclone. It proposes “emergency human-centered strategies” in the recovery phase, whereby development and transformation of cyclone affected rural–urban zones should be adopted in step with the global community practice
Evaluation of the state and causes of ineffective leadership in Africa
Full text linkEven though Africa is the richest continent in terms of natural resources, it is arguably the poorest in terms of development. The protracted economic challenges experienced around the continent have sometimes led to social unrest which has unfortunately given birth to migration with sometimes unintended consequences such as xenophobic attacks and people drowning while trying to reach Europe. For some time now scholars and policymakers have been trying to unravel the quagmire of Africa’s problems without palpable success. With over sixty years since the first African country gained independence, effective and sound leadership continues to be evasive around the continent with a few notable exceptions. The study sought to find out who was responsible for the dearth of leadership prevalent on the continent. A secondary (desk) research was conducted focusing on all the 54 countries on the continent. The study found that although the continent should shoulder much of the blame for poor leadership, colonialism, post-colonial exploitation, and white monopoly capital cannot be absolved. Africa requires leaders who are not afraid to speak their minds and take bold, difficult, and unpopular decisions. The continent should shed the unfortunate tag of being a net importer of leadership theory and practice by developing African leadership based on the principles of ubuntu
An Analysis of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on Gender Inclusivity
Full text linkThe 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is the mother of all human rights instruments internationally. Other subsequent documents such as the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (1976), Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and so on emerged as responses to the inadequacies and gaps within the parent document. While the document made significant achievements in human rights upholding during its own time, this study argues that the UDHR (1948) was never meant for everyone, but rather, it was a patriarchal document designed to further the interests of grown-up men to the detriment and exclusion of women and children. The thrust of the paper is to elaborate the importance of the semantics approach to human rights, and how inconsiderate language can cause irreparable damage to the rights of other groups in society. Presented in the paper are facts gathered through desk research which is also commonly known as document analysis. The study also employed interviews and focus group discussions. The study interviewed 5 key informants who are lecturers at a particular institution of higher learning. 30 students from the same institution participated in 3 focus group discussions of 10 people each, to make a total sample size of 35 participants. The study established that the UDHR (1948) contains 15 articles which used semantics referring to men “he, himself, and his” which clearly exclude women. The study further established that the UDHR (1948) rarely used gender neutral language specifying he or she, him/her, himself of herself, an action which grossly indicated gender discrimination from the semantics approach to human rights. Recommendations are made that policy formulators should always use gender inclusive language to include everyon
Optimising Carbon Sequestration, Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Benefits in Munanaire Community-managed Native Forest: The Potential Role of Social Businesses in Zimbabwe
Full text linkThe interconnected risks of biodiversity loss, declining carbon stores in communitymanaged native forests, and rapid climate changes have heightened awareness in many developing countries of the urgent need to conserve indigenous forests. Beyond their timber value, native forests provide crucial non-timber benefits, including effective carbon sequestration, support for higher biodiversity, and food security. Partnering social businesses with community-managed forests can significantly advance social development goals related to climate change, health, a clean environment, and economic growth. This paper explores how social businesses can enhance carbonsequestration and biodiversity conservation, fostering sustainable livelihoods for marginalized communities. Qualitative data was gathered through structured focus group discussions with participants selected via purposive sampling. Our findings indicate that social businesses can optimize carbon sequestration in communitymanaged forests by providing modern management skills and facilitating access to green financing instruments like carbon credits and green bonds. Focusing on the nontimber benefits of indigenous trees can help forest-based communities diversify income streams, enhance livelihood resilience, and promote adaptability to climate change. This study contributes to understanding how to improve the resilience of marginalized communities dependent on indigenous forests
Community-Led Conservation: Mitigating Wildlife Conflict Through Collaboration
Full text linkThis study examines the relationship between Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) management and Community-Based Conservation (CBC), highlighting the part that local communities contribute in promoting sustainable wildlife management practices. The study underlines the importance of cooperative approaches based on community agency and stewardship are to the management of HWC and biodiversity conservation. The study employs a mixed method approach, and the researchers used focus groups and expert interviews to gather the needed data in the Save Conservative area (Chivi, Mwenezi & Chiredzi Districts). A sample size of 300 for quantitative method and 20 for qualitative method were used. The findings of this research were (1) collaborative governance, local knowledge and social-ecological resilience in Human-Wildlife Conflict is important and, (2) human wildlife conflict is a major challenge for conservation efforts. In light of these results, it was determined that community involvement in decision-making is essential because it fosters community ownership and engagement, which results in better conservation outcomes. Furthermore, there is need for collaborative management as it promotes community engagement and ownership
Developing Inclusive Climate Resilience Strategies for Children with Autism in Gwanda, Matabeleland South: An Exploration of Adaptation to Climate Change
Full text linkThis study takes into account the interaction of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), vulnerable populations, and climate change. Global concern in phenomena such as climate change, where awareness of its impacts is crucial, is mostly for the vulnerable, such as individuals with ASD. People with autism are likely to exhibit distinctive sensory sensitivity and insistence on sameness, whose extent could be undermined by climate change effects. This study examines how climate resilience strategies for children with ASD can be developed in Gwanda. The importance of this study is that it will provide insight into successful home and policy adjustments to support individuals with ASD under climate change. The key findings are that climate change is inevitable and children with ASD need to learn to accommodate change in spite of their resistance to changing. The study concludes that through active engagement the education sector can fulfil its moral and ethical obligation to address climate change effects
Human-Wildlife Conflict in Gachegache, Zimbabwe: Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Sustainable Community Conservation Strategies.
Full text linkThis study explored the relationship between climate change, water scarcity, and human-wildlife conflict (HWC) in Gache Gache, Zimbabwe, with a focus on sustainable community conservation strategies acknowledging the inseparable link between ecological systems and human livelihoods. Wildlife migration patterns have become increasingly unpredictable, leading to intensified competition for resources and heightened conflict. While community-based conservation strategies provide a foundation for coexistence, their effectiveness remains limited by inconsistent implementation, financial constraints, and a lack of local ownership. Governance structures continue to be a significant barrier, as weak institutional support and inefficient resource allocation hinder progress in conservation efforts. Greater community engagement, adaptive governance, and sustained investment in conservation initiatives are essential for fostering long-term human-wildlife coexistence. Addressing these challenges requires a shift towards more inclusive decision-making processes, where local communities are active stakeholders rather than passive recipients of externally driven conservation policies. A holistic approach that integrates ecological sustainability with social and economic empowerment will be critical in mitigating human-wildlife conflict and ensuring resilience in conservation efforts. HWC, evaluate the effectiveness of community-based conservation (CBC) strategies, and examine the role of governance, resource allocation, and community engagement in HWC mitigation. A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to gather data from key stakeholders, including community members, conservation officers, and policymakers. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the findings. The study concludes that while CBC strategies have shown potential in reducing HWC, their effectiveness is hindered by governance challenges, limited financial resources, and inadequate local participation. Climate-induced water scarcity continues to exacerbate conflicts as wildlife encroaches into human settlements in search of resources. To address these challenges, the study recommends strengthening conservation governance, increasing financial and technical support for community initiatives, enhancing local participation in conservation decision-making, and integrating HWC mitigation into broader climate adaptation policies. A holistic and adaptive approach is essential for fostering long-term coexistence between human populations and wildlife in Gache Gache
“All Colonialists Are Bad, but Some Colonialists Are Worse Than Others”: Representations of the Colonial Experience in Selected Colonial and Post-Colonial Literary Texts
Full text linkThe colonisation of Africa by some European nations goes back to the Berlin Conference of 1884-5, when “the scramble for Africa” was officially launched under the Chairmanship of the German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck. These Europeans – “fourteen states (including Turkey) and the USA sent representatives” (Stokes 1984: 29) – decided amongst themselves how Africa would be parcelled out into colonies. Africans were not present at that conference. This was being done “to promote the civilisation and commerce of Africa, and for other humanitarian purposes,” (Knappert and Pearson, 1976: 179; Asante 2015: 194-197). In reality, Europeans had long been plundering Africa since the 1500s for slaves, ivory, timber and minerals. Indeed, colonial literature even defends slavery on the grounds that the immorality and degradation of Africans could only be ended through the Africans’ contact with their European masters (Irele 2009: 210). Rider Haggard, John Buchan and Robert Ruark are only three examples of defenders of the slave trade and colonisation that immediately come to mind. Using a post-colonial literary theoretical approach, whose main objective is to bring to light, in literary texts, the implications of colonial domination (Walder 1998: 3), this paper argues that as much as the colonial experience was diabolical wherever it was experienced in Africa, British colonisation differed from that of its German and Afrikaner partners in crime. After analysing canonical texts such as Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God, depicting British colonialism in Nigeria, and others from the former German and Afrikaner colony of South West Africa, the paper concludes by suggesting that British colonialism was less harsh than its German-Afrikaner counterparts. The article further recommends that both colonial and post colonial literary texts should form a compulsory component of syllabi at schools, colleges and universities in Africa. This is one way of ensuring that we never forget our past, as we grapple with the present, and as we plan for the future (Rodney 1972: 7)