National Research Database of Zimbabwe
Not a member yet
5897 research outputs found
Sort by
Eliciting the Financial Challenges Facing Emerging Contractors in Developing Countries Using the Critical Incident Technique: A Case of South African Construction Industry
No full textThe purpose of this paper was to determine the financial critical incidents that are
encountered by emerging contractors in the construction industry in Gauteng, South Africa.
The methodology of assessment was based on critical incident technique, a qualitative
method which has been considered reliable in tourism and hospitality studies. An interview
guide which was evaluated in terms of reliability and validity was used to collect critical
incidents from the respondents. Based on the interviews conducted, the respondents
highlighted twenty eight financial critical incidents perceived to have an impact or impacts on
Emerging Contractors’ performance. The incidents identified were the inability of Emerging
Contractors to properly manage cash flow, poor budgetary planning and cash flow, poor
financial decision making and lack of collateral. In order to improve Emerging Contractors’
performance, executives are required to plan construction projects in order to guide their
execution and control. The limitation of the study was that the perceptions drawn were
extracted from 12 respondents who represented emerging contractors in Gauteng Province.
Therefore, the results of the study cannot be generalised to the entire South Africa
construction industry, however they can be used as part of the solution towards Emerging
Contractors’ performance
The impact of dollarization on pensioners in Zimbabwe: a case study of Old Mutual (2009-2015)
No full textThis study examined the impact of dollarization on pensioners in Zimbabwe with Old Mutual as a case study. The objectives were to find out how dollarization affected retirees and ways to compensate the aggrieved pensioners. A review of literature on the subject of dollarization was done and the findings provided a good foundation in the understanding of the. Data was collected by way of questionnaires and interviews from a sample size of twenty people randomly selected from a population of fifty two employee benefits personnel. The study
revealed that pensioners in Zimbabwe were adversely affected by dollarization in that their contributions were eroded which is evidenced by the very low pension benefits they received on retirement. Recommendations were made to try and rectify these issues. These include approving offshore investments and encouraging more use of hybrid schemes
An assessment of the strategies that short term insurance companies can implement in order to improve the uptake of insurance products in Zimbabwe.
No full textHouseholds and organisations in the world have come to accept that risk is inevitable in every sphere of life. The insurance mechanism has been used to address risks faced by both organisations and households. The purchase of insurance saw many people who have adopted it enjoy a number of benefits it brings. Like many African countries, Zimbabwe has also experienced low insurance penetration rate as a result of a number of challenges. The process of increasing the penetration rate has proven to be a rough walk with challenges which differ from one market to another. This study assessed the strategies that can be implemented in order to increase insurance uptake with particular reference given to the nonlife insurance industry of Zimbabwe. The study covered the period from December 2010 to December 2015. Simple random sampling was used in selecting 10 short term insurance companies out of the 20 registered with IPEC. Structured interviews and questionnaires were used as research instruments. The findings from the study were presented in graphs, charts and tables. Conclusions from the findings of the research showed that the currently implemented strategies are not adequate and hence there is high need for the adoption of strategies that are inclusive of the needs of the consumers. Furthermore, some insurance companies are failing to implement better strategies because of financial constraints. It has been recommended that the regulator be more flexible in regards to authorising the launch of new products and strategies and on the side of the insurance companies, it was recommended that they make products that enable consumers to get more coverage at lower costs since it has been noted that the insuring public has acute shortages of disposable income. Since consumer consumption patterns are changing, it was noted that there was high need for insurance companies to adapt to such changes through tailor making products as well as implementing a highly informative marketing strategy so as to enlighten consumers more about insurance concepts and products
The impact of high teacher pupil ratio in rural and peri-urban government schools in Goromonzi District in Mashonaland East Province.
No full textThe main purpose of this study was to assess the impact of high teacher pupil ratio in rural and peri urban government schools in Goromonzi district in Mashonaland province. The objectives of this study were (a) to establish if the recommended teacher pupil ratio exists in rural and peri urban government schools,(b)to determine whether high teacher pupil ratio influences performance of pupils in rural and peri urban government primary schools,(c)to identify the major challenges faced in the maintaining of the recommended teacher pupil ratio in rural ad peri urban government primary schools,(d)to suggest measures that can be put in place to attain the ideal teacher pupil ratio in primary schools,(e)to assess the impact of high teacher pupil ratio on performance in national examinations. The study targeted 70 public primary schools in the District, in which a total of 2 peri urban and 3 rural schools were sampled for the study. Purposive sampling design was used as the research design for the study. The questionnaires were administered to all heads, grade 7 teachers of sampled school and district personnel. Piloting of the research instruments was conducted prior to the actual data collection to determine the validity and reliability of the tools. Research permit was obtained from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mashonaland East Provincial office and Goromonzi District office .The data collected was processed and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The relationship between teacher pupil ratio and performance was worked using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient, the value r calculated was -0, 53.this negative correlation between teacher pupil ratio and performance indicated that as teacher pupil ratio increases performance decreases and vice vesa. The study recommended to the government to employ more teachers to schools with lower pupil teacher ratio and ease workload. It also recommended to the government to fund schools adequately and to ensure equity distribution of teachers where teacher pupil ratio is high
Assessment of groundwater vulnerability in Norton Town, Zimbabwe.
No full textThe current threats of climate change have prompted the dependency on groundwater as a sustainable supply of domestic water. As a result, maintaining groundwater quality has remained a critical intervention for many local authorities especially in developing countries including Zimbabwe. This study assessed the vulnerability of groundwater quality within Norton Townin Zimbabwe, an urban area that dependents partly on groundwater sources for domestic water supplies.The town has a number of potential pollution sources. Potential pollution sources were digitized onGoogleEarth mapusing GIS techniques. Ground control points were collected to validate and improve the potential pollution source map. Fifteen (15) systematically selected groundwater points (8 boreholes and 7 wells) located close to potential pollution sources were chosen and water samples collected from them. Four (4) sampling campaigns were undertaken in January and February 2016. The water samples were analysed for selected water quality parameters using standard methods and compared to Zimbabwean and World Health Organization limits to assess drinking suitability. The parameters that were studied include temperature, turbidity, pH, DO, electrical conductivity, TDS, total hardness, iron, sulphates, chlorides, faecal coliform and total coliform. One-way Analysis of Variance was performed using SPSS version 23 to test for any significant differences between parameters and sites. In order to determine parameters that are important in assessing variation in groundwater quality data set, Principal Component Analysis was used. The Moving Average technique in Integrated Land and Water Information System was used to plotspatial and temporal variation of groundwater in the environment. The Aquifer Vulnerability Index Model was used for mapping the vulnerability of groundwater in Norton Town. Six parameters including hydraulic conductivity, soil media, depth to water level, aquifer media, slope and land cover were assigned weights and ratings using ILWIS Software. Statistical data grouping was implemented in order to differentiate five categorical index ranges.Results for mapping potential pollution sources showedthat, industrial activities and improper disposal of solid wastes and wastewater are the main causes of groundwater pollution in Norton. Descriptive statistics for the analysed groundwater parameters showed the mean values for temperature, turbidity, pH, DO, electrical conductivity, TDS, total hardness, iron, sulphates, chlorides, faecal coliform and total coliform were 25.7 °C, 6.8 NTU, 7.2, 3.66 mg/L, 580 μS/cm, 280 mg/L, 698 mg/L, 0.05 mg/L, 455 mg/L, 282 mg/L, 1015 cfu/100mL, 991 cfu/100mLrespectively. The resultsshowed that temperature, turbidity, DO, TDS, pH, chlorides, total hardness, electrical conductivity and sulphates had significant variation of parameters (spatial and temporal) explained by (p values <0.05). PCA components F1, F2, F3 and F4 had total variability of 80% with each one of the components having 36%, 24%, 11% and 9% respectively.The significant parameterswerechlorides, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and feacal coliform. From the Aquifer Vulnerability IndexModel, five different vulnerability zones were established which were; very low vulnerability (index 63-73), low vulnerability (74-84), moderate vulnerability (85-95), high vulnerability (95-106) and very high vulnerability (107-126). The results showed that 17.8% of the area had very low vulnerability, 37.2% low vulnerability, 30% moderate vulnerability, 12.5% high vulnerability and 2.5% very high vulnerability. The study identified the main pollution sources as treatment plant, agriculture, landfill, onsite sanitation and industrial discharge. The study also revealed that potential pollution sources are the main causes of groundwater contamination. The results showed that groundwater sources situated in high density areas had faecal coliform counts greater than 100 cfu/100 mL which could be harmful to human health. Groundwater quality parameters (50 %) exceeded the Zimbabwean and World Health Organisation drinking water limits. At the present moment, the area shows a total of55 % very low to low vulnerability.It is therefore recommended that water from vulnerable sources be disinfected regularly before human consumption.,WaterNe
Online music distribution and piracy In Zimbabwe: a case of Jah Prayzah’s album Jerusarema on Jive Zimbabwe’s online music store
No full textOnline music distribution is a new phenomenon in Zimbabwe which artists, distributors and consumers are yet to fully adopt. The Internet has provided a platform for distribution but unfortunately, it has provided space for sharing music illegally and the distribution of counterfeits is on the increase. The Internet has also altered the traditional way in which music was distributed. Record labels are slowly becoming irrelevant and online music distribution is slowly taking course. This research looks at online music distribution and piracy in Zimbabwe. The aim of this study is to look at the prospects of online music distribution in the age of piracy. Furthermore, this research explores how Jah Prayzah as an artist has benefited from the online music store in distributing his album Jerusarema on Jive Zimbabwe’s online music store and how, if in any way, the online music store has helped lower the rate of piracy. The shadow economy theory and the theory of competitive advantage were used to inform this study. The case study methodology was employed in this study, with the case being the album Jerusarema. Interviews with the proprietor of the online music store, Benjamin Nyandoro and Jah Prayzah the artist were conducted to collect data. The study found out that consumers and artists are still reluctant to use the online music store hence piracy remains rampant
Assessment of groundwater vulnerability due to urban settlements: A case study of Temeke District in Dar Es Salaam City, Tanzania
No full textThe world’s human population is increasing at an unprecedented rate with much of this growth taking place in towns and citiesof developing countries.Dar es Salaamin United Republic of Tanzania is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa with a population of more than 4.5 million people.The study was carried in the populous district Temeke, one of the three districts within Dar es Salaam City. The district is accommodating 30% of total populationof Dar es Salaam(estimated to reach 1.4 million people). Approximately, less than 15% of Temeke residents supplied with surface water from DAWASCO water supply system. The rest90% rely on groundwater as their main source of potable water supplied through public and private deep boreholes or shallow wells. The illegaland improper dumping of solid waste,leakage of effluentfrom industries, poor management of sewage from domestic and commercial activities aremajor common pollution sources identified in the area.The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of rapid expansion of the urban settlements on groundwater vulnerability in Temeke District. The study assessed the spatial and temporal changes of land use and land cover changes in the area, identifiedand assessed the groundwater quality status.The study further investigated and mappedgroundwater vulnerability areas to pollution using the DRASTIC Model.Land use andland coveranalysis of the study area through GIS and Remote Sensing application using Landsat imagery TM and ETM of 1989, 1998, 2009 and 2014 undersupervised classification was applied. Results showed largeexpansion of built up area by 62% due to urbanizationfrom 1989 to 2014. Population increasecausedexpansion of built up areaand reduction ofthe open land from 47% to 13% and woodlandcover from 33% to 18%. The high expansion of built-up area with rapid emerging of informal settlements and urban slums and use of onsite sanitation threatened the water quality in the area.In assessingthe groundwater quality status of Temeke District, the area was divided into four categories namely; industrial areas (Keko,Changómbe and Kurasini), residential areas (MbagalaKuu, Mtoni andKurasini), agricultural areas (Changómbe) and commercial areas (Tandika). Groundwater samples from boreholes and shallow wells inthe selected sampling sites in the study area were analysed for physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. The parameters were analysedusing standard methods. Faecal coliforms increased in concentrationfrom 0 CFU/100 ml at Keko,MbagallaKuu and Tandika in the dry season to 170 CFU/100 ml at Changómbeduringwet season. The mean value measuredwas26 ±37CFU/100ml in the dry season and56 ± 64CFU/100ml during the wet season. The total coliform count measured in the dry season ranged from 5 CFU/100ml to 257 CFU/100ml while in the wet season it ranged from 10 CFU/100ml to 310 CFU/100ml). The mean total coliform count ranged from 67 ± 95 CFU/100ml in the dry season to 115 ± 110 CFU/100ml in the wet season. Statistical results from ANOVA indicated significant difference of faecal coliforms among sampling sites and between seasons at significant level p = 0.05 (f = 10.036, p = 0.001). A TukeyPost-hoc Test confirmed the significant differences between Tandika and Changómbe (p = 0.001), Mtoni and Changómbe (p = 0.003) Kurasini and Changómbe (p = 0.021), Keko and Changómbe (p = 0.001) and MbagallaKuu and Changómbe (p = 0.005). Analysis of varianceshowed statistical significant differences of total coliforms count among sites and between season at significant level p < 0.05(f=20.447, p < 0.000. The TukeyPost hoc Test discovered the statisticalsignificant differences of the total coliforms means between Tandika and Changómbe (p = 0.000), Mtoni and Changómbe (p = 0.000) Kurasini and Changómbe (p = 0.001), Keko and Changómbe (p = 0.000) and MbagallaKuu and Changómbe (p = 0.000) at significant level p < 0.05.Results revealedalso high concentration inturbidity, total dissolved solids,nitrate, iron, manganese,faecal coliforms and total coliforms exceeded the Tanzanian Standards and World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits for drinking water.The rapid population increasein the area coupled with high usage of on-site sanitary facilities(pit latrines and septic tanks) and poor waste management all contribute to elevated levels of some of the groundwater quality parameters.The DRASTIC method for mapping intrinsic aquifer vulnerability was applied to identify and delineate the groundwater vulnerable area to pollution based on hydrogeological parameters ofthe study area. Results from DRASTIC Model revealed that, about 49.39% of the total area in Temeke District found to lie between moderate to extreme high vulnerable of groundwater pollution. Thesewere allareas characterized with high population density with high use of onsite sanitary facilities mostly pit latrines, septic tanks, improper dumping of solid wasteand sewage from industries, commercial and residential areas. Also, hydrogeological parameters of the area like highporosity and permeability (influencing hydraulic conductivity) of the existing alluvial sandy aquifer, high rechargefrom surface pollution sources lowered the capacity of this aquifer to attenuate all the contaminants.The study recommends the need to have regular monitoring of groundwater in Temeke District and that intrinsic vulnerability maps should be incorporated into urban landuse planning and decision making to minimise the risk of groundwater contamination from pollution load.,WaterNe
Assessment of the performance of wastewater treatment plants: A case study of Gammams And Otjomuise Wastewater Treatment Plants in Windhoek, Namibia.
No full textWastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), if not operated properly, may cause undesirable effects such as eutrophication. Gammams and Otjomuise are two WWTPs, treating domestic wastewater in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. Both plants are alleged to cause negative impacts on the environment, through nutrients in their effluent, released into the environment. However, very few scientific studies have been done on the treatment plants to estimate their contribution to eutrophication. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the performance of the two WWTPs, by analysing historical and primary water quality data on the plants’ performance. The variations of water quality and compliance with effluent standards were analysed using influent and effluent time series. The treatment efficiencies of the two plants were determined. The contribution to eutrophication of GWWTP was also estimated using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Approach, using the Centre of Environmental Science of Leiden University (CML) method in the GaBi model. GWWTP complied with the Namibian water quality effluent standards of 2013, for total suspended solids, ammonia, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Biological Oxygen Demand and Chemical Oxygen Demand, while for the same parameters; Otjomuise’s effluent did not comply. Temperature, pH, and orthophosphates effluent compliance were similar for both treatment plants. There were no significant monthly average variation trends in influent and effluent concentrations between the two treatment plants. Treatment efficiencies for TKN were 94% and 80%, Orthophosphates had 37% and 87% for Gammams and Otjomuise respectively. LCA Approach had the following results, for 2004-14 data, input/influent was 15.9kg while output/effluent was 0.960kg of phosphate loading per unit volume. For 2016 data, input/influent was 18.3kg, while output/ effluent was 3.6kg of phosphate loading per unit volume. The GaBi identified Orthophosphate as the parameter that significantly contributed to eutrophication. Similarly, overall results in assessing the performance of the wastewater treatment plants indicated that orthophosphates were the parameter that significantly contributed to eutrophication. Apart from recommending that the two wastewater treatment plants constantly upgrade the plants regularly, wastewater treatment should transfer enough phosphates to sludge to avoid eutrophication of receiving waters and communities should be sensitized on the use of adding phosphate containing detergents in washing.,WaterNe
An investigation of groundwater vulnerability within the vicinity of a landfill: A case study of Pomona Landfill, Harare.
No full textLandfills are considered to be one of the major threats to groundwater quality. The study focused on Pomona Landfill in Harare which is the only official active landfill for Harare City Council. The main purpose of this study was to investigate groundwater vulnerabilitywithin the vicinity of the landfill. Groundwater and leachate samples were collected and analysed for selected water quality parameters and compared to Zimbabwe Standards of Drinking Water Quality and World Health Organization Guidelines. Groundwater samples were collected from eightpoints, two located upstream of the landfill and four located downstream of the landfill and two within the landfill. Leachate samples were collected from a leachate trench at the centre of the landfill and from a pond down-gradient where the leachate was drained out by gravity. Samples were collected and analysed, from February 2015 through June 2015 giving a total of thirty-two (32) groundwater samples and eight (8) leachate samples. The Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) Model was used to estimate the quantity of leachate generated. In this study, the DRASTIC Model was also used for a part of Pomona area to generate a small-scale map of groundwater vulnerability to pollution.The results showed that,most parameters (87%) satisfied the Zimbabwe Standards of Drinking Water Quality and the stipulated World Health Organization potable water guidelines except turbidity and iron. The average volume of leachate discharged from Pomona Landfill during the period 1983 to 2014 was 94 486 m3/year. The average annual leakage from the landfill base was 13% of the average annual total precipitation of 708 140m3/year.Four different vulnerability zones were determined, namelylow vulnerability (38%), moderate vulnerability (58%), high vulnerability (3%)and very high vulnerability (1%). The current results show insignificant impact of the landfill operations on the groundwater resource. The existing soil stratigraphy at the landfill site consisting of clay and silt-clay is deduced to have influenced natural attenuation of leachate into the groundwater resource. It is however observed that in the absence of a properly designed leachate collection system, uncontrolled accumulation of leachates at the base of the landfill pose potential contamination risk to groundwater resource in the very near future. It is recommended that groundwater be monitored regularly and a properly engineered landfill be constructed.,WaterNe
