National Research Database of Zimbabwe
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The impact of ICT revolution in enhancing rural education: a case study of Ward 9 schools in Mudzi North
No full textThe study was assessing the impact of ICT revolution in enhancing rural education. The study was carried out in three secondary schools in Ward 25 of Mudzi district. The study was conducted to assess how ICT is being used to enhance the quality of education, improving teaching and learning process, assisting educational management as well as improving educational outcomes such as better academic performances and opportunities for both pupils and the school. The study also assessed the levels of ICT access by teachers and pupils analysing whether ICT is being used for educational purposes or not. The research used a qualitative approach to explore the topic under study. Questionnaires and interviews were used as part of the data gathering instruments. On sampling, purposive sampling method was used to obtain data from participants who were themselves school teachers, school administrators and school pupils. The major findings of the study revealed that the use of ICT in the education curriculum is still at initial stages as teachers are now beginning to appreciate new technology. Few teachers and pupils were noted as having skills and competence on ICT which they were using for teaching and learning purposes. ICT was also contributing tremendously to the educational management systems in schools. Though the subject of ICT is still not popular in the district, teachers and school heads admitted that it has a potential of bringing positive changes in the learning and teaching process and can improve academic outcome, boosts student confidence and motivates them in their studies. The study also noted some challenges to the utilisation of ICT in the district with factors such as: poor electricity supply, lack of computer literacy and confidence within the teachers, poor ict infrastructure in schools, lack of financial resources to support the expansion of ICT amongst other factors. The research brought forward some recommendations to assist ICT initiative in schools such as monitoring of ICT schemes, alternative source of energy, increase computer density at schools amongst other factors
A reflection on agricultural land tax in Zimbabwe: paper presented at a conference held on the 14th-16th July 2015, Elephant Hills Resort, Victoria Fallls, Zimbabwe
No full textTheme:1st International Research Conference On Driving Socio-Economic Development Through Value Addition And Sustainable Use Of Resources. Sub Theme: Water resources management, climate change, food security and sustainable development,The Government of Zimbabwe seeks to introduce land rentals to all land reform beneficiaries to raise revenue to compensate white former farmers and raise funds for periodic land audits among other reasons. Nonetheless, this is met with mixed feelings and hence, this paper affirms that there is a knowledge gap between policymakers and the public regarding land taxation. The purpose of this paper is to provide enlightenment on why land rentals maybe the best choice for Zimbabwe considering fiscal stress, limitations in financing options for public expenditure and shrinking tax bases. The methodology follows an extended literature review from which lessons are drawn and applied to Zimbabwe. By evaluating land taxation against the postulations of theory and empirical evidence, it emerges that land rent is the best option that government has in order to meet objectives and belligerence to it may abate efforts towards sustainable development. Altruism from policy makers and the general public is critical in bearing the costs of adjustments. An independent commission may implement and administrate land tax and supporting programmes to balance the trade-off of gains to government and the public. Publicity on internet forums may aid to increase transparency and accountability
Privatisation of Zimbabwe state owned enterprises as a means of improving efficiency: a case study of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
No full textThis study is designed to assess the efficiency of NRZ, and identify how privatizing the SOE may help improve its efficiency levels. The parameters examined to measure the efficiency levels of NRZ were profitability, operating efficiency, staff costs to total revenue, capital investment, leverage and government expenditure and dividend payouts. The study measured the change in the performance of the parameters by comparing them over a period of 5years. There was convincing evidence that suggested that NRZ’s efficiency levels have been low, and that joint ventures with private partners, or sale of share to the public, may help improve the efficiency levels of the SOE
Investigation of Applicability of Business Ethics in State Universities in Zimbabwe: A Case Study of National University of Science and Technology (NUST)
No full textBusiness ethics is the lifeblood of an organisation as it governs the codes of principles and values and action in decision making within an organisation. Ethics consists of the values and moral standards an individual or society determines are desirable and acceptable. Ethics in leadership is the determination of right and wrong, good and the moral standards of the leader and follower relationship. Alternatively, business ethics have been viewed to be concerned with issues not covered by law, this means it starts where the law ends.
This study seeks to expose and gauge the applicability of business ethics in State Universities in Zimbabwe: A case study of National University of Science and Technology (NUST). Relevant literature on (BE) was reviewed to anchor and ground the research and some possible factors that drive (BE) as well as key findings which other researchers have found out explored. Based on the theories that determine ethics, it explains what is at play in the ethics in Zimbabwean State Universities. More on, it explores importance of moral standards and ethical concerns, staff compliance to business ethics and factors influencing business ethics.
The study adopted a phenomenological approach while using the case study strategy that sees all categories of employees in State Universities participating in the study. Data was gathered through questionnaires and interviews from the sources considered informative. Tables, bar and pie charts were used to provide concise presentation and make easy analysis and interpretation of data. The research found business ethics and moral standards are of utmost importance to any organisation. More on, Leadership or management plays an important role in an organisation. Leadership should embed business ethics as culture of an organisation as employees follow suit of what leadership does.
Challenges related to business ethics were lack of written codes or uncommunicated codes of ethics, fear of the unknown (sense of impunity), nepotism and not knowing what is expected of an employee. The study concluded that 22% of respondents were not aware of business ethics and such a percentage represented a significant number which calls for attention, whilst 91% also raised concern regarding unethical practices. As highlighted in the literature review, many authors pointed that business ethics places the demands on businesses to be morally right to its stakeholders, and therefore 91% raising concern may be signaling the bad state of affairs that the institution may be in regarding moral correctness.
The researcher recommended that NUST should train the entire staff on business ethics and its importance in order to create earnest awareness and also create systems that hold accountable those who do not comply with business ethics as a way of embedding business ethics in the university culture. Employees should whistle blow any wrong doing regarding compliance with business ethics,Lupane State Universit
The Impact of Work Life Balance and Job Satisfaction on Organisational Commitment among Female Employees: A Case of Harare Central Registry.
No full textThis study uncovers the family and work dimension, digging deeper into the impact that work-life balance and job satisfaction has on organisational commitment. It explores the relationship that these three variables have on each other. Factors involved include emotional attachment to the organisation, sense of belonging and job requirement satisfaction. Work life is predicted to foster satisfaction and therefore lead to commitment in the long run. Work life was measured using nine (9) statements, job satisfaction using five statements and organisational commitment using eight (8) statements. A total of fifty (50) questionnaires were distributed out of which thirty-five (35) were returned after filling. No probabilistic method was used to choose the sample. Summary statistics were calculated and explanations were based on these and other qualitative reasons. The need to investigate and deepen the understanding of the implication of lacking balance between work and life can be connected to many factors which are stated in the body of the research. The findings of the research indicated that work life balance, job satisfaction and organisational commitment have a significant relationship. When controlling for demographic and professional experience, the results also indicated that age, marital status and culture were significant predicators for work life balance. The results also showed that female employees that are married with children have lower job satisfaction. Mostly, single employees show a degree of satisfaction whereas their married counterparts lacked it. This may be attributed by the ever increasing responsibilities brought about by marriage. Pay and sense of belonging were found to be predicators for job satisfaction. The results also indicated that the level of commitment was lower for married middle aged employees due to the responsibilities that are mostly expected of them at home. The findings of this study provide valuable insight for managers and policy makers who are interested in factors that contribute to work- life balance, overall job satisfaction and organisational commitment among females employees,Lupane State Universit
An investigation on the impact of fisheries along Zambezi River as a livelihood strategy in Binga district: a case study on the fishing camps in Simatelele Ward 8.
No full textThis research is an assessment of the impact of fisheries as a livelihood of the riverine community of Binga, a case study on Simatelele Ward 8. The research begins with an overview study, where the problem statement is formulated and research questions developed, further leading to the objectives of the research and the significance of the study, with de-limitations of the area of study. This study adopts sustainable livelihood framework Approach by the Department for International Development UK (DFID), and the problem effect tree and the solution tree as its theoretical frameworks in order to bring a greater understanding of the concept of fisheries as a livelihood and how they impact on the riverine community of Simatelele Ward 8. The data collection instruments used in the study includes focus group discussions, semi-structured questionnaires, unstructured interview and direct observation. The study also presented and analyzed the findings on the investigation carried out during the research work. This was presented in the form of tables, graphs and pie chart. The study further presented the summary, conclusions and recommendations on the gaps found during the research. However, fisheries make an important contribution to local and national economies, because they are a source of employment and incomes, and they contribute food security as enable an individual or household to access nitrates and proteins. As a livelihood, fisheries communities should exhibit improved life styles and better living standards, because fisheries are believed to reduce poverty. Despite the benefits of fisheries, the findings of the research is that the riverine community of Simatelele Ward 8, still continue to suffer from high levels of poverty and food shortages. This is because of poor markets, big families and exclusion of spouses in fisheries, high payment of rents, poor rains and diseases, such as HIV and AIDS and Malaria and low level of education. livelihood, community participation, gender, fisheries and impact
An outcome evaluation of water, sanitation and hygiene (SHINE)(WASH) project being implemented by a ZVITAMBO in Shurugwi District.
No full textThe outcome evaluation exercise was done on a program called SHINE implemented by ZVITAMBO an organization in Shurugwi District. The evaluation was done because the stakeholders wanted to assess the achievements and changes brought by the project. The evaluation actually focused on determining the extent to which the SHINE WASH project achieved the stated goal of the project. Specifically the evaluation assessed:
1. The improvements in access to and use of safe and sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene services in Shurugwi rural household level, which is responsive to the livelihood needs of the rural Shurugwi people (men, women and children).
2. The extent to which nutrition, sanitation and hygiene practices among targeted rural Shurugwi communities has been improved.
3. The extent to which the skills and practices among the targeted population women, men and children were enhanced by the SHINE WASH project to manage nutrition, water supply, sanitation and hygiene services.
The evaluation study was done in 3 out of the 10 projects wards which were randomly selected. The study methods included household surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews with key informant interviewees, field observations and documentary reviews of quantitative and qualitative methodology and presented in graphs, pie charts, tables and narratives. Participatory process was employed where stakeholders were put at the center to come up with project objectives and indicators, program theories and logic models, data collection and analysis.
1. The SHINE WASH project greatly improved access to and use of safe, clean and sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene services, 50 new boreholes were drilled which benefited 20 000 beneficiaries, 200 water points were rehabilitated which benefited 23 000 community members, 1 dam was constructed which served 23000 rural Shurugwians .Beneficiaries embarked on animal husbandry, gardening and brick molding as a result of SHINE project. Documentary review showed that there was great
reduction of water borne diseases such as cholera and bilharzias as a result of the SHINE WASH project. 2. The study findings indicate that the SHINE WASH project have improved the sanitation and hygiene practices of the project beneficiaries (men, women and children). For 90% of rural people were effectively sensitized against the dangers of open defecation, 5000 households receiving sanitation facilities,3000 households started using pit latrines,100 sanitation groups were formed, hand washing was much improved, diarrhoea cases reduced from 24 000 in 2011 to 5 000 cases in 2015 as a result of SHINE WASH project impact. 3. The SHINE WASH project positively enhanced the capacity, improved skills and knowledge of beneficiaries were enhanced with skills and could now repair and maintain their water points even after the SHINE project withdraw its support.
Recommendations made includes:-
1. The project should be replicated to the whole province of Midlands province as it was noted that the project has brought positive changes of improving health in Shurugwi rural community. 2. The SHINE project should address gender disparities such as cultural issues that negatively affect women participation in more rewarding work such as latrine building and water point supply maintenance. 3. The project should create more health awareness and train more community leaders for hygiene and hygiene promotio
An Outcomes Evaluation of the School Feeding Project Implemented By Caritas Zimbabwe at Chirongwe Primary School, Masvingo Province
No full textThis report is an outcomes evaluation of Caritas Zimbabwe’s school feeding project which was implemented at Chirongwe Primary School in Masvingo Province. The school feeding project ran for approximately nine months from November 2015 to July2016 and has been designed as an emergency response to the drought that was threatening the lives of many rural schools feeding project managed to change lives of its clients, treatment effectiveness, lessons learnt and to generate recommendations to improve Caritas’s emergency response in future. This report is a result of field research which involved fifty-three respondents in the project site and other important stakeholder.
The selection process of beneficiaries was highly inclusive. Local stakeholders were effectively engaged in planning and implementation. It was quite evident that the project managed to save lives and alleviate suffering through improving access to food. Clear impacts directly attributed to the project were increase in enrolment, high attendance rate by school pupils, improved staff motivation, higher achievements and in class and more time spent at school by both teachers and pupils.
However, areas of improvement included: (i) monitoring and evaluation aspects of the project
(ii) insufficient technical expertise-as was noted only one field officer was responsible for carrying out all the field activities of the project (iii) reaching out for instance there is a need to cater for the nutritional requirements of the physical weak pupils such as the sick and those infected with HIV and AIDS
Learning from others: An insight into the experiences in the enforcement of ESC rights in comparative foreign and international law jurisdictions
No full textThis paper was originally presented at the Economic Social and Cultural Rights Symposium held on the 17th of April 2015 and was organised by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Law Students Association. The purpose of this paper is to provide some ideas around the lessons which Zimbabwean courts can draw from South Africa and India as comparative foreign jurisdictions as well as international law, in order to enforce and or implement the ESC rights guaranteed under the new Constitution of Zimbabwe.,International Commission of Jurists (ICJ
Bionomics of malaria vectors in Mutare and Mutasa districts of Manicaland province, Zimbabwe
No full textBionomics of malaria vectors including species composition, resting and biting behaviour and insecticide resistance are important for insecticide-based malaria control and interventions. The lack of data on malaria vector species composition and relative abundance, resting and biting behaviour, as well as insecticide resistance, make the development of target control measures problematic in Mutare and Mutasa Districts. It is imperative to elucidate, characterize, and identify all members of the An. funestus group and the An. gambiae complex to determine their resting and biting behaviour, host-seeking activities, disease relationships, and resistance to insecticides. A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the bionomics of malaria vector mosquitoes in Mutare and Mutasa Districts. Anopheline larval and adult sampling was conducted from May 2013 to December 2014 using scooping, pyrethrum spray catch, prokopac aspirator, exit window trap, pit shelter, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light trap methods. Indoor and outdoor resting mosquitoes were collected in randomly selected houses and pit shelters, respectively. Mosquitoes sampled by light traps were divided into two cohorts. In one cohort, traps were left overnight and mosquitoes collected the following morning, while in the other set, mosquitoes were collected hourly throughout the night. Mosquito samples for insecticide resistance testing were divided into two subsamples. One subsample was used immediately for WHO susceptibility assays and the other batch was allowed to oviposit in the insectary at the National Institute of Health Research, and females from the F1 progeny were used in further susceptibility assays. Mosquitoes were identified using morphological keys and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The PCR-based assays showed the presence of four sibling species: Anopheles funestus sensu stricto (90.8%, 267/294) and An. leesoni (5.1%, 15/294) of the An. funestus group and An. arabiensis (41.9%, 13/31) and An. quadriannulatus (48.4%, 15/31) of the An. gambiae complex. Of the two malaria vectors, An. funestus sensu stricto was more abundant (95.4%, 267/280) than An. arabiensis (4.6%, 13/280). Endophilic collections of the An. funestus group and the An. gambiae complex were five times greater than exophilic catches. Nearly 90% endophilic An. funestus populations were collected on sprayable surfaces and the remainder was caught on unsprayable surfaces. Of the sprayable surfaces catches, 56% were collected on the roofs; with 44% on the walls. Of the gravid An. funestus caught, nearly two-thirds (218/330) were collected exiting recently pyrethroid-treated structures, with a 24-hour mortality of less than 10%. The CDC light trap catches were more abundant indoors (68%) than outdoors (32%). Anopheles funestus showed variable indoor and outdoor flight activity rhythms, with two peaks during the night; between 22:00-23:00 hours and 02:00-04:00 hours. Human blood index was 64.3%, with Plasmodium falciparum infection rate of 1.8%. Wild caught females showed resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin (3.3% mortality), deltamethrin (12.9% mortality), etofenprox (9.2% mortality), and bendiocarb (11.7% mortality).F1 An. funestus females showed resistance to deltamethrin (14.5% mortality), lambda-cyhalothrin (6.9 % mortality), etofenprox (8.3% mortality), and bendiocarb (16.8% mortality), but were susceptible to DDT and pirimiphos-methyl (100% mortality). Intensity resistance assay to bendiocarb had 100% mortality, while deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and etofenprox had increased knockdown times with mortalities ranging between 66.7 and 92.7% after 24-hour exposures. The present work revealed important information on the behaviour of malaria vector mosquitoes in Mutare and Mutasa Districts, which if not addressed might threaten gains made in malaria control in the study area. It is imperative to change house-spraying insecticide from pyrethroids to organophosphates or DDT (organochlorine), develop an insecticide resistance management plan, provide extension lances to the house-spraying programme, complement mosquito nets with the use of mosquito repellents and long clothes, and establish a monitoring programme to determine the occurrence and distribution of An. funestus populations in Manicaland Province