ZEGU Journals Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University
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ChatGPT Experiences in Universities in Zimbabwe
No full textChatGPT is in popular use among academics from across regions even though little is known about its effectiveness as a teaching and learning method. This study, underpinned by a mixed methods research design, critically evaluates ChatGPT‘s effectiveness through the experiences of Zimbabwean university lecturers and students who are currently using ChatGPT for teaching and learning. The study employed a multi-site case study research design, utilising face-to-face interviews and document analysis as data collection methods. Purposive sampling was used to select three students and three lectures from each of the three identified universities that are identified by pseudonyms. The data were analysed thematically. The findings show that both students and lecturers use free ChatGPT facility only when doing their academic work. Hence were not privy to other packages that required monetary subscriptions thus its effectiveness could not be conclusively determined basing on the experiences from the free facility only. It also appeared that the participants lacked technical skills in the proper utilisation of technology culminating into overreliance on ChatGPT. The library was sparingly used leading to potential for misinformation and increased lack of personalised feedback. Investment in technology by universities is required. The students and lectures need to be guided by policy and training on the proper use of ChatGPT technology.
Capacity Building of Mentors in the Mentoring of Trainee Teachers
No full textThis study examined the capacity building of mentors in the mentoring of trainee teachers as a way of improving mentors’ practices. The study employed the interpretive paradigm and used the qualitative approach and case study research design. Purposive sampling was used to select 27 participants perceived as rich informants. These participants included six mentors, 15 trainee teachers, five college lecturers, two lecturers from the teaching practice office, three senior lecturers in charge and one university lecturer who is a link person between the college and the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Zimbabwe. Data were obtained through face-to-face interviews, focus groups and document analysis. It emerged from the study that mentors were not at all being trained to become mentors, therefore, mentors needed to be trained before the mentorship programme. The study revealed that most mentors depended on the knowledge they attained from college when they were training as teachers and a few from school staff development programmes. Thus, there was a gap in the capacity building of mentors and mentor selection
Corporate Governance And The Performance Of State-Owned Enterprises Zimbabwe
No full textThe article is based on a study that focused on corporate governance and its influence on the performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Zimbabwe. Such SOEs have been at the centre of controversy in recent Auditor General Reports. The study sought to determine the influence of board size on organisational performance, to measure the effect of board composition on organisational performance, to examine the effects of board four-year term capping on board effectiveness and to determine the impacts of board member performance contracts on board effectiveness. The researchers adopted a mixed methodology in which self-administered questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data from the respondents. The study used stratified random sampling in which board members, board chairpersons, chief executive officers (CEOs) and management of selected SOEs in Harare, Zimbabwe, were used. Data was presented in the form of tables, charts produced using SPSS software. Results of the study obtained show that the adoption of the right board size and composition and the use of performance contracts result in better performance of SOEs in Zimbabwe. The study concluded that there is a positive relationship between board size and organisational performance, a positive relationship between board composition and organisational performance. Also, results showed a positive relationship between the use of board performance contracts and organisational performance. The study, therefore, recommends that SOEs should practise good corporate governance by adhering to corporate governance legislation such as the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act Chapter 10.31 which spells out how boards of SOEs must be composed
Ethical Leadership Dilemmas for School Teachers Amid Socio-Political And Economic Turbulences In Four Zimbabwean Schools
No full textThis qualitative study explores unethical practices by teachers amid turbulent socio-political and economic environments in Zimbabwean schools. The study was conducted in four Zimbabwean schools in Marondera Education District. The study data were generated through focus group interviews, documents review and semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that ethical practices in schools are very difficult, if not impossible, during turbulent socio-political and economic environments, like in Zimbabwe currently. The study establishes that a turbulent socio-political and economic environment compromises ethical practices as it facilitates incessant teacher unpunctuality and absenteeism due to private businesses, late payment of salaries and bonuses, the mounting cash crisis in banks, political violence against teachers, a collapse of the educational funding systems and learner deteriorating behaviour at schools, amongst others. Whenever there are two competing issues, one is bound to be outweighed, in the case of this study, ethical leadership is pitied against survival of the school personnel survival before ethical behaviour, creating dilemmas for the school heads and teachers. It has emerged, in this study, that the way forward is to deal with the turbulences that are pushing the educational practitioners to the cliff edge, hence restoring calm on the education flight
Socio-Ecological Conundrums Towards The Wise Use Of Wetlands In The Harare Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe
No full textOne of the critical concerns faced by African cities in the modern epoch are disappearing urban wetlands because of the construction of infrastructure. This is predominantly the case in cities that are expanding their urban areas at a rapid rate. Wetlands are currently being studied for their potential role in the food mitigation process, in addition to supporting urban sustainability in terms of water quality and availability. It is undisputable that the protection of Harare’s urban wetlands is an investment that is well worth making. The main objective of this study i s t o analyse views, attitudes and perceptions of residents and relevant authorities towards wetlands in the Harare Metropolitan Province. This is to promote the wise use of wetlands for sustainable development. Human activities and poor policy implementation are the causes of wetland depletion. The study targeted the Harare Wetlands Trust, Monavale and Cleveland management, residents living on or near the wetland areas and representatives from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA). The study deployed a qualitative research approach and utilised the face-to-face Interview guide, semi-structured questionnaires and field observations for data collection and was guided by the wise use and ecological restoration concepts. Results highlighted that there is an existing policy on wetlands, most stakeholders are aware of wetlands and their benefits and are of the view that they should be conserved. Although they are viewed as important ecosystems, they are utilised in unsustainable manners. Human activities have been persuaded by economic challenges, a lack of policy implementation, lack of awareness programmes and education. There is need to change perceptions and attitudes towards wetlands. The study concluded that wetlands are an important part of the ecosystem, and they offer a crucial role, especially to the hydrological system of the city. The study recommended that the Environmental Management Act needs to be revised in line with on-going developmental activities, gazetting of existing wetlands to identify those under threat, reclaim or restore lost or degraded wetlands for sustainable development to be attained
Linking Climate Resilience To Environmental Law
No full textRandom changes in environmental setups have made it necessary for lawmakers to draft legislative objectives aimed at overseeing the welfare of the environment through environmental laws. For long, global environmental challenges have made policy-makers review, probe, inspect and evaluate adaptation and mitigation strategies to quickly address the common dilemma of ‗‘climate change‘‘. Therefore, the article critically argues that the ability of societies to close a gap towards climatic rarities is through effective climate resilience planning. Climate crises have had negative impacts on global polities. Such an unceremonious change in climate has wholly disrupted the stability of societies, mostly caused by the immense rise in new experimental technologies that can be responsible for modern day disasters. The article shows that the unrelenting rise in climate change can best be managed with a successful action plan of risk assessment which will concurrently help navigate the process of law-making to lower down climate risks. Because climate risks have had a negative impact on earth‘s society, the article further shows that mitigation and adaptation are key to cope with the climate which is randomly changing in the modern world. The article further shows that the existing connection between climate resilience and environmental law is inseparable. A random change in climate can be a push factor in the enactment of new environmental laws and policies to mitigate and adapt over the climatic desecrations
An Evaluation of Training and Development Strategies on the Performance of the Manufacturing Small-To-Medium Enterprises in Mashonaland West Zimbabwe
No full text
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the Zimbabwean manufacturing sector play a pivotal role in the nation\u27s economic growth. This study critically investigates the role of training and development programmes to enhance the performance of manufacturing SMEs in Mashonaland West Province. The study was underpinned by pragmatism research philosophy. Structured questionnaires and structured interview guides were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from 80 respondents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlations while qualitative data were analysed using NVivo. The main study findings establish that there is a positive relationship between training and development and performance of manufacturing SMEs. Study findings show that in the rapidly evolving business landscape, maintaining a competitive edge requires continuous investment in upskilling and reskilling the workforce. The study establishes that in the manufacturing sector, where innovation is a key driver of success, training and development can foster a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability. This can lead to the development of new products, processes, or business models, ultimately enhancing the competitiveness of the organisation. The study revealed that investing in training and development demonstrates an organisation\u27s commitment to its employee that can positively impact employee engagement, morale and retention. Well-trained and empowered employees are more likely to feel valued, contributing to higher job satisfaction and reduced turnover rates. Retaining skilled and experienced personnel is crucial for maintaining institutional knowledge and driving continuous improvements within manufacturing SMEs. The recommendations proffered by the study are that manufacturing SMEs should adopt a strategic, data-driven approach. This includes assessing skill gaps, aligning training objectives with business goals and continuously evaluating the impact of training initiatives on key performance indicators. By investing in the training and development of their workforce, manufacturing SMEs can enhance productivity, foster innovation, improve employee engagement and ultimately strengthen their overall competitiveness in the market
Environmental Policy and the Quest to Preserve Natural Habitats including Wetlands under Climate Change and Variability in Zimbabwe
No full textRandom changes in climate change constitute one of the major global environmental problems constraining economic development. The article argues that climate change has ceased to be a mere environmental issue and, to date, the issue has gained more traction as a human rights and developmental concept. Climate change directly and indirectly affects the enjoyment of most of human fundamental rights as provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013) (hereinafter referred to as the Constitution) and international instruments. The existing mismatch in environmental policy frameworks is that of environmental policies versus the quest to preserve natural habitats, which mostly limit the enjoyment of other rights, being remote and, in some cases, the chain of causation appears very weak. Furthermore, the consequences of climate change exacerbate human suffering and affect the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and freedoms. The article seeks to address the major concern that while there is need to preserve natural habitats, including wetlands, societies and communities are in a war of priority, on whether development of wetlands should override preservation thereof. The article then provides that the Constitution of Zimbabwe contains many provisions which are aligned to the international legal framework on the protection of the right to a healthy and sustainable environment. The article then argues that in Zimbabwe, the law recognises the protection and conservation of wetlands, but the quest for development of these precious wetlands has resulted in fast-track disappearance of wetlands worsened by surprise changes in climate
Taxation, Law And Socio-Economic Resilience: The Zimbabwe Case
No full textThe best tax system for any country is presumably one that reflects its economic structure, its capacity to administer taxes, its public service needs and its access to such other sources of revenue (Bird, 2013). Since taxes are the main source of funding for public goods like public infrastructure and law and order maintenance, raising revenue continues to be the most important role of taxes in a world where many governments are dealing with declining revenue, rising expenditures and ensuing fiscal constraints. Tax policy is not just about economics, it is about politics (Moore, 2007). There are several general tax policy concerns that have historically influenced the formation of taxation systems, presuming a particular amount of income that must be produced that depends on the larger economic and fiscal policies of the country concerned. All the changes in the economy brought about by the implementation of tax systems are included in the consequences of taxes (James and Nobes, 2008). Taxation has an impact on several variables, including employment, investment, consumption and output. Governments could not support their societies\u27 needs if they did not collect taxes. The government uses the money it collects from taxes to fund social projects which makes them essential. However, whether in the rich or developing world, tax avoidance and evasion are the double crimes that face and destroy all tax systems. Adhere (2013) asserts that the Zimbabwean situation seems unique when viewed against the scale of corrupt practices prevalent in the country and the detrimental effects of economic sanctions imposed by the West, resulting in the country having to rely on internally generated income for its operations, including, but not limited to, tax collections. To escape from the constraints of tax, corruption, high tax rates and lack of trust on Government and tax authority by taxpayers, are among the reasons for evasion and avoidance (ibid.). This write-up will scour out how taxation laws operate in regulating tax payments and the socioeconomic adaptation thereto
Artificial Neural Network Model Building in Predicting Maternal Mortality at Chitungwiza Central Hospital, ZimbabweArtificial Neural Network Model Building in Predicting Maternal Mortality at Chitungwiza Central Hospital, Zimbabwe
No full textSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have identified the reduction of maternal mortality as a key priority at global level. The target is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to 70 deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030 and to ensure that no co untry with maternal mortality of more than as twice as the global average (Alemayehu, 2019). Pursuant to this target, every country is required to calculate and achieve its national target by 2030. In 2017, the World Health Organization(WHO) reported that about 810 women died every day due to preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. This number remained consistent throughout the year. Between 2017 and 2 000 the maternal mortality ratio (MMR number of maternal deaths per 100 000 live births) dropped by about 38% worldwide; of which, 94% of all maternal deaths occur in low and lower middle income countries. This provides an insight of variations in maternal mortality exist in high income European countries (Azhar, 201