ZEGU Journals Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University
Not a member yet
262 research outputs found
Sort by
Devolution in Zimbabwe: Exploring Factors Underpinning Fiscal Equalisation
No full text
Overlooking fiscal devolution often renders other dimensions of decentralisation ineffective, as sub-national governments require adequate financial resources to fulfil their delegated mandates. Without a balance between financial resources and responsibilities, it becomes nearly impossible for sub-national governments to execute their assigned functions. The golden rule of decentralisation states that funding should follow the devolved functions and responsibilities. Beyond the mere transfer of resources and responsibilities, devolution is supported by the allocation of fiscal resources to drive people-centred local development. A budgetary procedure aligned with the devolution framework must accompany devolution process. The central argument in the article is that fiscal imbalances in Zimbabwe demand a robust and sustainable intergovernmental fiscal model as the central government retains control over the most lucrative sources of revenue, despite implementing various decentralisation reforms. To address these imbalances, locally generated revenue must be supplemented through revenue-sharing or intergovernmental fiscal transfers, as provided for in the Zimbabwe 2013 Constitution. A well-structured fiscal equalisation model framework can enhance the financial sustainability of sub-national governments by considering key variables such as the poverty index, the population of the area, the size of the local economy and the estimated value of the natural resource endowments
Evaluation of career development strategies on the sustainable growth of manufacturing Small to Medium Enterprises in Masvingo Urban, Zimbabwe
No full textThe major objective of the study was to evaluate the implications of career development strategies on the sustainable growth of manufacturing Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Masvingo Urban. The qualitative study focused on 20 purposively selected SMEs that have been in operations in the same business for not less than ten years because of their business experiences. Structured interviews were used to collect data which was analyzed and presented using themes. Study findings showed that SMEs that strengthen career planning for employees not only provide them with growing and most potential progress opportunities, reduce turnover intentions, and increase quality. Furthermore, research findings show that career development creates promotion opportunities within SMEs, provides training opportunities, and skills development to improve employees\u27 employability in the external and internal labor market. Additionally, research findings reflected that career development helps foster continuous improvement and innovation culture within SMEs. Based on the study results, the conclusions drawn were that the existence of career management provides the necessary support for developing knowledge, skills, and behaviors essential for both SMEs and individual success. A longitudinal study needs to be done on the challenges of all SMEs in adopting career development strategies in Zimbabw
Rural Land Policy: Case Comparisons of Ethiopia, Lesotho and Botswana
No full textRural land policy is crucial in shaping agricultural productivity, food security, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. The article conducts a comparative analysis of rural land policies in Ethiopia, Lesotho and Botswana, examining their distinct historical, social and economic contexts. Ethiopia\u27s state-centric land tenure system, Lesotho\u27s leasehold approach and Botswana\u27s decentralised tribal land management offer diverse frameworks for understanding land governance. By employing a comparative approach and integrating the Evolutionary Theory, the article explores the impact of different land tenure systems on agricultural productivity, tenure security and access to credit. The analysis reveals tenure security as a core objective across all three countries, with varied effectiveness in land reforms. Ethiopia\u27s large-scale state interventions, Lesotho\u27s systematic land regularisation and Botswana\u27s rural diversification highlight distinct policy outcomes. Key findings emphasise context-specific solutions, participatory governance and integrating customary and statutory systems. The study emphasises the critical role of women in land management and addressing gender disparities in land rights to enhance socio-economic development. In light of climate change and globalisation, the article advocates for climate-resilient agricultural practices and rural diversification to mitigate external impacts. Insights gathered offer valuable lessons for policy-makers, scholars and development practitioners aiming to enhance land tenure security, promote sustainable land use and improve rural livelihoods in Africa. This study contributes to the broader discourse on land governance and rural development through cross-country learning and adapting best practices
The Perennial Problems of Forest Fires in North America and Australia: Lessons for Policymaking and Design
No full text
The article is based on a study that discusses the perennial problems of forest fires in North America and Australia, presenting lessons for policy-making and design. Wildfires present problems in the North American (the United States and Canada) and Australian regions as they continue to cause huge losses in ecosystems, vegetation and loss of human life. The problem in the study is that the bushfires continue to claim human life and indigenous ecosystems causing the invasion of the landscape by flammable invasive plants that worsen the bushfires leading to the increase of climate change. The study uses a qualitative approach with a bias towards a case study research design. The research employs secondary information as the data collection method. Thematic analysis is used as the data analysis method. The study findings reveal that the impacts of forest fires are on the ecosystems and the hydrological systems that are affected, worsening climate change. The study concludes that the responses to forest fires have shown a lack of preparedness and eagerness to erase the industrial cities in favour of smart cities in the rebuilding. The study recommends the systematic technological integration of machines in risk disaster management
Enhancing Early Childhood Learning through Information and Communication Technologies: The Zimbabwean Public-School Experience
No full textThe advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has been embraced in different organisations, education included. The response to the ICT policy in the Zimbabwe education system depends chiefly on the economic standing of the parents to the learners enrolled at a specific school. Thus, although adoption of ICTs in education, particularly in Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes, has been oversubscribed, it draws deep into the pockets of parents to meet the requirements. Drawing from the Technology, Organisation and Environment model, the study explores the benefits of ICTs in ECD programmes in Zimbabwean public schools. A qualitative study is employed in which data are generated through observation, document analysis and focus group discussions (FGDs). The study adopted purposive sampling to conduct FGDs with Bachelor of Education degree students at one particular university in Zimbabwe as key informants. These were also practising ECD teachers at different primary schools in the Harare Metropolitan Province. Findings show that a number of ECD teachers had basic ICT skills but could not use them effectively in the teaching-learning activities due to lack of resources. Findings also reveal that these ICT resources were a result of initiatives from parents and well-wishers. The study therefore recommends the expansion of ICT resource mobilisation and staff development programmes in order to equip ECD educators
Exploring the Role of AI in Enhancing Customer Experience in Zimbabwean E-Commerce Platforms
No full textThis study explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing customer experience in Zimbabwean e-commerce platforms, with a focus on the banking industry. The research objectives are to examine the current state of AI adoption, assess the effectiveness of AI-driven customer experience solutions and identify challenges and opportunities for improvement. Grounded in the Service-Dominant Logic (SDL) Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this quantitative study employs a descriptive research design. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 250 customers of Zimbabwean banks\u27 e-commerce platforms. A survey questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, which was analysed using statistical methods. The findings suggest that AI adoption has a positive impact on organisational performance and customer satisfaction and that AI-driven customer experience solutions are effective in improving customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, the adoption of AI-driven customer experience solutions is hindered by significant challenges, including data quality and regulatory issues. The study recommends that banks in Zimbabwe prioritise data quality, invest in AI-powered services and provide training and support to employees to ensure the successful adoption of AI-driven customer experience solutions. This study contributes to the understanding of AI adoption in the Zimbabwean banking industry and provides insights for banks to enhance customer experience and improve operational efficiency
A Thematic Review on the African Perspective on Caregiver Experiences
No full textAbstract Caring for patients with mental disorders brings many challenges for informal/unpaid carers, especially relatives. This article provides a brief overview of the literature on caregivers’ experiences in caring for a relative with mental illness. The areas identified and discussed that may impact the caregivers include gender and caregiver burden, patriarchy, gender differences in caregiving, economic factors and policy frameworks in caregiving in different African countries. The following databases were searched to identify studies for the literature review: Google Scholar, Medline, Pub Med and HINARI. Studies eligible for inclusion were all those published in English about caregiving in Africa among families of individuals with mental illness. Family caregivers were found to be primarily females who experience the burden of caregiving. The study concludes that the socioeconomic factors hurt the caregiving process, with consequential negative health outcomes for family caregivers
Construction for Successful Project Delivery in Zimbabwe: A Critical Analysis
No full textThis study seeks to critically evaluate the role and efficacy of modern methods of construction (MMC) in enhancing successful delivery of projects in the context of the purview and dynamics of time, quality and costs. This research inquiry stems from the background of continued construction overruns affecting time of delivery, costs and quality in several construction projects in Zimbabwe. The main strand permeating this research is aimed at establishing the relationship or nexus between MMC and the delivery of construction projects in terms of time, costs and quality. If MMC are the panacea to the achievement of the mentioned three variables, it could be asked; why is that the uptake is still low? The study is informed by pragmatism philosophy and adopts the abductive approach and the sequential exploratory design in sync with the adopted mixed methods paradigm. The major findings of the study are that MMC ensure quick delivery of housing units, offer low-cost material, faster construction, high savings, involve low labourers, are environmentally friendly, are energy saving due to the walls, are safer with reduced risk easily accessible materials, and are sustainable. However, if MMC are adopted within traditional and fragmented project delivery methods, project overruns in terms of costs, time and quality will still be experienced. The study also brings to the fore the fact that though the construction industry is privy to the benefits of MMC, the clientele is still stuck in Traditional Methods of Construction (TMC), the use of brick and mortar. There is need for government to promulgate a policy which enhances the uptake of MMC. The construction industry must adopt MMC within Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and other contemporary delivery processes. This will ensure that all parties to the construction are involved from the onset of the project up to its delivery
Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings that were Constructed before the Green Building Agenda was Mooted
No full textThe article is based on a study that investigated the challenges and strategies in retrofitting older buildings in Mutare City, Zimbabwe, to improve their energy efficiency and sustainability. The existing buildings significantly account for global energy consumption and carbon emissions, thereby contributing to rapid climate change and its associated problems. This necessitates urgent action to enhance energy efficiency in existing buildings in many cities, particularly those built before the Green Building Agenda through green retrofitting. Several developed countries have made strides in retrofitting existing buildings in urban areas to achieve the goals of green retrofit designs. Despite these successes in developed countries, the implementation of retrofitting has remained slow in developing countries due to several barriers, with significant implications for addressing climate challenge issues. This article examines the challenges to implementing energy-efficient technologies in these structures and explores strategies which have improved energy efficiency in similar situations. The qualitative research approach was employed to guide the study using the case study research design. Participants were selected through non-probability sampling techniques. The data were collected through the interview and observation methods. It was analysed through thematic analysis and presented textually through narrative description. Findings reveal that the barriers to improving energy efficiency in old buildings in Mutare are socioeconomic, technical and regulatory factors. It is also revealed that a multiplicity of strategies can be used to address challenges impeding green retrofitting of old buildings in Mutare. Conclusively, it emerged that addressing these barriers is a necessity and requires a multifaceted approach. The recommendation involves adopting a multifaceted approach to tackle the challenges affecting green retrofitting to optimise the energy performance of the existing building stock
Managing the ‘Snatch and Grab’ and Other Crimes in Harare Gardens: The Harare Gardens Crime Elimination Model Founded
No full textUrban recreational spaces, such as the Harare Gardens in Harare, Zimbabwe, were initially conceived as secure environments intended for leisure, relaxation and public enjoyment. However, in recent years, these spaces have become increasingly characterised by heightened levels of criminal activity, particularly opportunistic offences such as "snatch and grab" thefts, attributable to their proximity to high-risk urban zones and the absence of robust security infrastructure. The deterioration of safety within such environments undermines their intended function and presents a pressing challenge for urban governance and planning. While previous research has broadly examined urban crime, there remains a significant gap in scholarly attention to crime dynamics within recreational spaces, especially in the context of sub-Saharan African cities. Moreover, few studies offer context-specific crime prevention frameworks responsive to the unique socio-spatial challenges of these sites. This qualitative study addresses this lacuna by investigating the prevalence, underlying causes and socio-economic impacts of crime in the Harare Gardens and by proposing the Harare Gardens Crime Elimination Model as a tailored intervention. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including visitors, vendors and street children, as well as participant observation within the Gardens. A qualitative desk review further supplemented the primary data. Textual analysis was employed to interpret the data, revealing three critical insights. Firstly, street children occupy a dual role as both perpetrators and victims of criminal activities within the Gardens. Secondly, the inadequacy of security infrastructure significantly facilitates the occurrence of crime. Thirdly, broader socio-economic vulnerabilities, such as poverty and marginalisation, serve as persistent drivers of criminal behaviour in the space. The study concludes that effectively addressing crime in the Harare Gardens necessitates a comprehensive and integrated approach, encompassing community participation, enhanced surveillance measures (e.g., CCTV systems) and targeted socio-economic interventions for at-risk groups. The proposed Harare Gardens Crime Elimination Model offers a contextually grounded framework aimed at restoring public trust, enhancing community resilience and re-establishing the Gardens as a safe and inclusive urban recreational space