ZEGU Journals Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University
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Gender Stereotype Reduction Framework: Lessons From An Early Childhood Development Play Centre Mooiplaats School Chipinge Zimbabwe
No full textGender stereotyping manifests in all the communities of the world and it remains a contemporary social problem. Drawing from the observed gendered play material usage at Mooiplaats Primary School in Chipinge peri-urban, Zimbabwe this article unpacks the motivation for the practice and proposes a framework which could be used to reduce it. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and data were collected by observing 15 boys and 15 girls in Early Childhood Development using play materials and by interviewing purposively sampled 10 parents/guardians of ECD learners, two ECD teachers and the Teacher-in-Charge of infants. Besides, play material inventories were analysed to establish purchase preferences and the patterns of usage. All this was done basing on the lenses of Oakely‘s Gender Socialisation Theory. Emerging themes indicate that biological and cultural underpinnings influence the children‘s social environment comprising families, peers, media, schools, inter-alia, to recommend some gender specific play materials. Gender can be reduced through understanding its source, how it is practised and by appreciating the benefits of its reduction. The GSRF proposed is undergirded by sources of gender, followed by gender practices, gender reduction initiatives and benefits of gender reduction. Community surveillance is necessary to see through its implementatio
Novation and Performance Of Retail Small To Medium Enterprises In Harare Metropolitan Province Zimbabwe
No full textThe integration of innovation into various aspects of society and the economy has the potential to transform industries and re-define business models. The study aims at assessing effects of innovation and the performance of retail Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Harare Metropolitan Province. The study is guided by Pragmatism Research Philosophy. Structured questionnaires and structured interview guides were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from 60 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 innovation and performance of retail SMEs. Study findings show that innovation promotes the adoption of advanced technologies within the retail sector. This includes technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing. These technologies can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of retail operations, streamline supply chains, improve customer experience and support data-driven decision-making. The study also reveals that innovation optimises retail operations and improves efficiency. By automating manual processes and integrating systems, SMEs reduce costs, minimise errors and enhance productivity. For instance, adopting inventory management systems and point of sale (POS) solutions can streamline inventory control, reduce stock outs and improve overall operational performance. The recommendations proffered by the study is that government should provide the necessary support such as digital skills training and favourable policies that enhance retail SMEs productivity
Social and Economic Impacts of Procurement Reforms on Local Communities in Zimbabwe
No full textThis study explores procurement reforms and social and economic impacts on local communities in Zimbabwe, focusing on how these reforms have influenced transparency, community participation and inclusive economic development in rural settings. Utilising a quantitative research design, data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to stakeholders involved in public procurement, including suppliers, local authorities and community members. The targeted sample size was 60 respondents. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, KMO, Bartlett\u27s test, and structural equation modeling (SEM) are employed to analyse the relationships between procurement reforms and their perceived impacts. The results indicate that procurement reforms have positively contributed to increased access to public procurement opportunities, reduced corruption and fostered greater accountability and trust among community stakeholders. Additionally, the introduction of digital tools and social media platforms has facilitated improved information dissemination, vendor engagement and monitoring of procurement activities, aligning with global trends in circular economy and digital governance. These findings support existing literature emphasizing the transformative potential of transparent procurement systems in enhancing service delivery and promoting equitable development (Kristensen et al., 2021; Chikwere et al., 2023). The study concludes that while significant progress has been made, sustained political will, capacity building and community empowerment remain critical to ensuring the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of procurement reforms in Zimbabwe‘s local governance landscape
Criticality of Internal Savings and Lending Schemes in Zimbabwe\u27s Women\u27s Empowerment Drive: Challenges Gaps and Options
No full textThe study describes the criticality of Internal Savings and Lending Schemes (ISALS) (mukando) in community development and the fostering of empowerment within societies. ISALS, as traditional informal savings and lending schemes, have been around in Africa for ages and have helped women in many communities attain financial independence. ISALS have been used by women as a method for financial viability. The study problematises the criticality of ISALS as a women‘s empowerment strategy in Zimbabwe to examine the gaps and challenges involved. The study uses a qualitative research methodology with a bias towards a case study research design. The research uses secondary information as the data collection method. The research uses thematic data analysis to analyse the findings. The findings of the research show that ISALS have become a strategy towards women‘s empowerment through enabling them to access financial assistance to cover their demands. The study findings reveal that ISALS have become a critical strategy for community development, addressing the domestication of women with no sources of income. The research concludes that ISALS have become a critical women‘s empowerment, enabling women to have social security and community development. The study recommends the creation of monitoring and evaluation committees to ensure inclusivity in ISALS
The Influence of Board Characteristics on the Performance of State Owned Enterprises
No full textThe study seeks to ascertain if there is any relationship between performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and board characteristics. Three proxiesor characteristics of the board, including board independence, board gender diversity and board size as vices of corporate governance are used to find their effects on the performance. The performance of the sampled firm X was measured by ROA, an accounting-based measure. The study reviews literature on board characteristics linking it mainly to the Agency Theory underpinning the study. The quantitative research approach is used to find the relationship between independent and dependent variables with a case study as a design. The sample of the study was drawn from the selected organisation and its subsidiaries using stratified random sampling. The sample consists of members from directors and senior management. The data collected through questionnaires was entered into IBM SPSS software for analysis. SPSS, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression were conducted to examine the relationships between the variables under study. Both the correlation and regression results reveal a significant positive relationship between board independence, gender diversity and firm performance in Zimbabwean SOEs. On the contrary, a significant negative relationship was found between board size and firm performance. The study recommends establishing boards dominated by independent non-executive directors and embarking on gender streamlining to achieve improved performance. Similar studies that could be useful in covering a large number of companies are recommended.
Ancestry versus Presidency: Unpacking Rural Land Ownership in Zimbabwe
No full textFor more than 90 years, British settlers ruled Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Whilst studies have been conducted to assess and document the history of rural land ownership in Zimbabwe, little has been done to assess the effectiveness in procedure and constitutionality of land reform programmes. This article explores land ownership in Zimbabwe and its relation to state control and the implications of the law. It argues that the quest for land ownership in Zimbabwe created a hostile environment that prompted a review of laws and policies by Africans towards a fair land distribution programme. This is because land in Zimbabwe has been a subject of immense politicisation. In a bid to create a balance of land ownership, the government introduced a strict land reform programme that sought to uphold and promote land ownership among ordinary citizens. Land ownership in Zimbabwe becsme a central issue for discussion during the Lancaster House Talks to end white dominance of precious land. This was worsened further by the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) in 2000 which changed the shape and look of land ownership. The historical 2000 FTLRP further weakened and paralysed an already deteriorating relationship between the government and white settlers who had remained in Zimbabwe after independence. The article then seeks to unravel the consequences of land reforms in Zimbabwe that caused recorded most violent moments of all time. Further, it shows that the effectiveness of the government scheme for expropriation of land without compensation was later adopted, strengthened and further consolidated in Zimbabwe‟s Constitution, which then becomes a human rights question. Accordingly, the article affirms that the laws of Zimbabwe simply put communal land in the hands of the presidency, something that has drawn wide attention as to the power vested in the presidency towards land ownership
Climate Change News is Awash Everywhere, The Phenomenon is Hitting Hard‘ Dialoguing with Rural Communities of Selected Districts
No full textThe article explores how the availability of climate change news in Zimbabwe is pushing the rural communities‟ understanding of threats posed by climate change on rural livelihoods and ways of life. Climate change has become a global threat to the rural livelihoods with the erosion of livelihoods leading to rural-urban exodus that is draining rural brains. This article is based on the argument that the mainstreaming of climate change news increases the awareness of rural people and aids their adaptation and resilience strategies. The study used a qualitative methodology with a bias towards an exploratory research design. The study used focus group discussions and in-depth interviews to gather data. The study used purposive sampling and adhered to all ethical principles. It found that climate change is hitting communal areas hard but rural communities have been benefiting from government and private media of information dissemination of news. The rural communities have been building resilience and adaptation to the vagaries of climate change. The study concludes that climate change remains a global threat to food security and rural development and more focus on climate news targeting rural communities must be introduced to fast-track rural development and resilience building. The study recommends the introduction of community radios and media outlets
The Right to be Rural: A Discussion with Reference to Africa
No full textThe study examines the concept of being rural in the context of Africa, particularly in light of the expansion of unplanned peri-urban settlements encroaching on rural areas. Rural communities in Africa have been threatened by the outwards growth of urban areas and the illegal sale of communal lands by village heads, leading to the disappearance of rural livelihoods in the process. The study problematises the lack of rural development and planning which are causing the loss of the right to be rural due to the development of peri-urban centres and counterurbanisation, leading to the failure of communal livelihoods. The research employs a qualitative research methodology with a case study design. The study utilises secondary data, sourced from Google Scholar articles and news reports. The research employs thematic data analysis as the method of data analysis to examine the study\u27s findings. The study findings reveal that the right to be rural is slowly disappearing in Africa as evidenced by the growth of peri-urbanisation. The study concludes that it is upon African governments to initiate rural development and planning initiatives that protect communal lands and give ownership to residents. The study recommends the implementation of policies that reduce illegal sale of communal lands.
Constituency Delimitation and the Voter Apathy Problematique in Zimbabwe 1980-2023
No full textThe article is based on a study that investigated the impact of delimitation on voter apathy in Zimbabwe from 1980 to the present. It intends to address the following objectives: to explore the delimitation patterns in Zimbabwe from 1980 to 2023; to assess the nature and pattern of voter apathy in Zimbabwe and to investigate the impact of delimitation on voter apathy in Zimbabwe. The study utilises a qualitative approach and phenomenology as a research design. Unstructured interviews are used and sample selected through convenience strategy, coupled with snowball, whereby referrals were made to connect other voters. The study establishes that delimitation that creates, configures and collapses constituencies as a result of motivated political play of gerrymandering, generates voter apathy through citizens\u27 withdrawal from the electoral process. Boundary mapping process proves not to be immune from gerrymandering and it creates some irregularities that affect the electorate, resulting in their deliberate withdrawal from casting a ballot. The study concludes that there has been a strong relationship between delimitation and voter apathy in Zimbabwe‘s electoral politics right from 1980. Going forward, delimitation process ought to be conducted free from gerrymandering, cognisant key issues such as geography and people; distance and tradition which, for so long, shaped people‘s common interests and preferences
COVID-19 and the Work-Life Balance in Zimbabwe Private Sector Companies
No full textThe Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in the creation of a new and complex business environment. Labour markets were interrupted and this ignited an enormous and instant series of trials and testing with flexible work arrangements and new relationships. Research to date has emphasized work-life balance (WLB) in the work and family domains only, whilst overlooking the effects of a pandemic as posed by COVID-19. Henceforth existing knowledge on remote working can be questioned in an extraordinary context. The study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the WLB in the post-pandemic period and beyond. It also aimed at exploring the projected abnormalities that are driving a foreseeable future policy revolution in the world of work and employment. The study utilised the qualitative research approach. A survey research design was used to select research participants. Snowballing purposive sampling was also used to get further referrals. The research study included 100 white-collar private-sector employees who completed an online questionnaire. Data were presented and discussed qualitatively. The study revealed that although hybrid and flexible work arrangements would be more central in the post-pandemic for nonmanual work, it will not be an ―one-sizefits-all solution. The traditional work systems and practices are likely to continue and workplaces will not completely disappear. In addition, those who are engaged in manual labour will continue current work practices with increased demands. Employers‘ focus on employees\u27 WLB in the new normal will target employees‘ motivation and achieve a better WLBe. The study recommended that new policies for crisis management and Hybrid work culture should be developed and implemented, especially for office workers. Government must also set aside funds or provide aid to private sector companies to prevent future crise