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A Process Evaluation of the Behaviour Change Programme among Youths in Vungu District: A Case of National Aids Council
No full textThe first chapter highlighted the background to study pertaining to the HIV prevalence and identified interventions strategies. The behavior change programme aims to reduce all risk behaviors and ways of combating the spread of various through various activities to sensitive different groups in the population but the current evaluation aims to assess the activities of the implementing partners. The first chapter managed to highlight research questions, research objectives and the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, objectives and goals of the programme and how they are to be attained through a programme theory and logical framework. The second chapter reviewed different articles of different scholars with the aim identified appropriate ways of carrying out a process evaluation. It further captured various process evaluations done by different organizations and scholars to gain an insight on how to carry out a process evaluation. Recommended research methodology data from different scholars was reviewed so as to come up with the most appropriate research methodology. The third chapter highlighted the population, sample procedure, sample size and research instruments used. In this research the researcher used qualitative methods of data collection which were questionnaires, sample size was selected using probability sampling methods. The research targeted 44respondents and distribution of questionnaires was done to 44respondents and 42 were returned, on the 42, 41 were completed. The researcher validated the research instruments through a pilot study and analyzed data using statistical package for social scientists version 21 (SPSS V21). The research found out that most activities carried out by behavior change implementers are tailored to suit a certain age group thus they discuss issues of HIV and AIDS in different segments of the populations. The research also found out that condom use and abstinence are most disliked topics but there are more negative about condom use than males and they view the condom as a tool to fuel the spread of HIV/AIDS. The researcher therefore recommended an increase on condom use lessons and the benefits of abstinence to all segments of the youth
Culture and religion as sources of gender inequality: rethinking challenges women face in contemporary Africa
No full textThe aim of this article is to explore how the contentious issues of culture and religion remain sources of gender inequality and oppression for most women in Africa. Culture refers to the “learned and ideational aspects of human society†(Jenks 1993: 9). In its subjectivity, culture carries the illusion of shared concerns and values in the face of the real and contentious divisions that exist among classes, gender, race and ethnic groups. Religion refers to what people believe in; their spirituality and how this shapes people's relation with each other and with God – the Almighty. In this article, the concept of “gender†shall be taken to mean roles that are ascribed to men and women. More often than not, these roles can be presented as if they are “fixedâ€, “unchangeable†and “incontestableâ€. Culture, religion and gender are problematic terminologies that merit analysis within the context of how these are used in some African communities to justify the oppression of women. In this endeavour, the article will pay special attention to how factors such as biblical notions of the creation of man, polygamy, cultural beliefs on spirit mediums, education, violence, forced marriages, women and property ownership, as well as cultural practices such as circumcision have informed cultural and religious decisions to justify the oppression of women in contemporary Africa. The central argument of this article is that since culture and religion are socially constructed, the manner in which they define gender roles in Africa can be challenged. The idea is to interrogate, deconstruct and demystify gender stereotypes that are constructed by culture and religion to discourage women from participating fully in the development of contemporary Africa
Effects of supplementing natural pasture hay with five Calliandra calothyrsus Provenances on the intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and excretion of purine derivatives by goats.
No full textPublished Article,Forty indigenous castrated goats with a body weight of
20.03 ± 0.97 kg were used in a nitrogen balance trial to
investigate the effects of supplementing natural
pasture hay with five provenances of C. calothyrsus on
the intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and excretion
of purine derivatives by goats. The goats were
assigned to five treatment diets with each provenance
at two levels (100g/day and 200g/day) of
supplementation in a completely randomized design.
Provenance and level of supplementation had a
significant effect (P<0.05) on intake of basal diet,
supplement, total dry matter and total organic matter
intake, while there was no interaction between the
provenance and the level of supplement. The nitrogen
balance was similar in provenances OFI 9/89 and
12/91 at 100 g/d supplementation, while at 200 g/d
supplementation the nitrogen balance was similar
between provenances OFI 9/89 and 10/91 and between
OFI 12/91 and 62/91. The microbial protein yield was
similar between provenances OFI 9/89, OFI 10/91 and
62/91 at 100 g/d supplementation, while at 200 g/d
supplementation provenance OFI 9/89 was similar to
OFI 12/91 and OFI 23/91 similar to OFI 62/91. On the
basis of total dry matter intake at 100 g/day
supplementation OFI 23/91 had the highest intake with
OFI 10/91 having the lowest. This trend seemed to be
reversed at 200 g/day supplementation with OFI 10/91
having the highest intake and OFI 23/91 having the
least intake. Provenance OFI 12/91 had the highest
microbial protein yield while OFI 23/91 had the
lowest. While this study clearly shows that the five
provenances had different effects in goat nitrogen
metabolism no clear trend of superiority could be
established
Corporate reporting in Zimbabwe: An investigation of the legitimacy of corporate disclosures by major public listed companies in 2014
No full textCorporate reporting practices by public listed companies in Zimbabwe have received little attention to warrant investigating the legitimacy of corporate disclosures by major listed companies. This paper presents findings of an investigation on corporate reporting by public listed companies on Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE). The research surveyed the top 10 capitalized companies to investigate the proportion of financial and non-financial information disclosure contents in company annual reports of 2014. Non-financial information reporting was considered from the perspective of sustainability reporting or environmental, social and governance reporting (ESG reporting.) The results showed that 86% of annual reports content by pages was predominantly financial information. The results confirmed the hypothetical assumption that corporate reporting by public listed companies on ZSE may not be legitimate due to corporate failings on balanced disclosure of financial and non-financial information as generally practiced internationally and mature corporate reporting. The research findings provide a business case for reform on corporate reporting on Zimbabwe Stock Exchange
The effects of artisanal mining on the livelihoods of the local community of Shurugwi
No full textThe purpose of this research, was to make a depiction of how the emergence and engagement into artisanal mining impacted on the livelihoods of the local community of Shurugwi. The areas under study in this particular study included Zireva, Mliswa, Chiriya, Dhlodhlo, Nhatare and also Mateka among others. Effort was made to look at some of the livelihood indicators that underwent improvement, judging from their previously marginalized position. Such a situation was brought about by various factors, ranging from the brink of the economic meltdown which saw foreclosure of major mines that had been operating in the small town such as Zimasco Steel. With prior engagement into artisanal mining, major improvements were witnessed on things such as asset accumulation, significant increase on household income levels, employment creation, and more so, better social service provision for the family i.e. on health, payment of school fees, shelter, and a general reduction to vulnerabilities socio-economic related. Using interviews and questionnaires as data gathering techniques, data was gathered at a grassroots level, that is the actual miners that were engaging directly into artisanal mining and some of the families that were being supported indirectly, taking note of the changes made ever since the emergence. Thrust was also placed on some of the challenges that these so called illegal faced on a daily basis, firstly with the state and its legislation that criminalizes their activities, not excluding the various stringent statutory instrument and licencing processes that hinder smooth operations. This sector is fairly important to the revival of the Zimbabwean economy and thus recommendations were given, that can assist in enhancement for both the state and more importantly the local people of Shurugwi
Influence of a family’s socio-economic status on early childhood education learners’ cognitive development in Zvishavane District.
No full textThe study sought to investigate the influence of socio-economic status on Early Childhood Education learners’ cognitive development. The study was motivated by the variance in learners’ cognitive abilities even though learners are of the same age. The researcher therefore looked at factors that influenced the learners’ cognitive development and the relationship between the learners’ socio-economic background and their cognitive development. The problem was that some pupils were lagging behind the others and if given homework they were not doing the homework, or the homework would not be correctly done. A critical literature review was done which revealed that there are various factors that affect the cognitive development of children such as poverty, low level of education from parents, parent-child interaction, lack of exposure to cognitive stimulating materials, the size of the family among other factors. The accessible population comprised of seven schools and a sample of two schools was chosen by stratified random sampling technique. This gave each school equal chances of being chosen. Ten Early Childhood Education teachers responded to questionnaires while twelve parents were interviewed. The study employed the descriptive research design. The findings revealed the children from low socio-economic backgrounds are negatively impacted which affects their cognitive development. It was therefore concluded that the parents should be educated on the importance of the cognitive development of their children, hence they should be active participants in stimulation of their cognitive development despite lack of resources. Teachers are encouraged to improvise in schools. Other factors that affect cognitive development can be tackled by other researchers
A third sex identity: Assessing cultural and structural violence against intersex people in Tanzania
No full textThis is a study involving intersex people and their lived realities in the communities. The study involved 18 interviews which targeted an intersex person, parents, a religious leader, governmental and non-governmental organisations. Respondents were classified according to their roles in the community and within their institutional levels.
This paper aims at highlighting some of the impact intersex people have had on a variety of
theories of sex and gender in Tanzania, and examine whether the intersex movement could effectively use legal frameworks developed by African feminist to modify the existing practices that are based on sex and gender systems. Intersex persons do not conform to the society’s fundamental assumptions that there are only two sexes and only two types of normal bodies. My focus on this study is not just to give a voice
to intersex people and how they experience intersexuality, but also to highlight how various
social and legal structures have provided services in a way that exclude intersex people. It also assessed the views of health professionals and the community at large on medical treatment and management of people with intersex condition.
The paper also argues that intersex people should not be grouped in a group of homosexuals, being intersex is about biological make up while being homosexual is about sexual orientation, therefore their issues needs to be addressed differently, their needs cannot be compared to homosexuals. It goes further on advocating for having separate organisations that specifically address the rights of intersex people.,NORA
An investigation of the operations of income generating projects on the performance of local authorities: a case study of Chipinge rural district council
No full textThe core principle behind this research was to carry out an “An investigation on the operations of Income generating projects on the overall performance of a Local Authority†A case study of Chipinge Rural District Council. Chipinge Rural council is local authority with the mandate of governing, administer the affairs and service delivery to the district populace. In line with the amendments made by central government to reduce grants to local authorities, the local authority then ventured in to Income generating projects so as to sustain service delivery and operations of the organisation at large. From the inception of the first project in 2009, right up to 2014, the operations of these projects were not reciprocating the efforts and funding invested in them. A
review of relevant related literature was embarked on to come up with what authentic authors and scholars had to avail concerning the operations of Income generating projects of local authorities. The researcher depended heavily on scholarly journals for related literature review carried out. The research design adopted was descriptive which was used in conjunction with questionnaires and interviews to gather data. The data gathered was presented using tables and histograms, whereas analysis was improvised with the help of the measures of central tendency specifically the mode, which was facilitated by the Likert scale model. The researcher made recommendations conclusions based on the data gathered and analysed on how the operations of Income generating projects can amplified so as to trigger a positive performance on the overall performance of the
local authority
A reflection on the Domestic Violence Act [Chapter 5:16] and harmful cultural practices in Zimbabwe
No full textWe need it now! Interrogating the concept of an open prison for female inmates with children in Zimbabwe
No full textThis dissertation is about realising equality for female inmates in the Zimbabwean prison system; it identifies that there is only one open prison1 for male inmates yet female inmates, especially those with children and the children themselves would benefit greatly from an open prison facility. Further, it calls upon the state to address the chasm between theory and practice when it comes to the implementation of the open prison for female inmates, thereby addressing the discrimination of female inmates that has been prevailing for the past 15 years.
Key to the researcher’s insights and findings is the fact that she is a Legal Officer and a
Superintendent with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) and has a background in the issue of open prisons by virtue of being a member of the Open Prison Selection Committee. The writer draws from her experience and professional status and uses the women’s law approach to take female inmates as the starting point to effectively reveal the imbalance between facilities for male and female inmates. Employing the women’s law approach throughout her research, she interviewed female inmates with children in prison and at home to explore their lived realities in the conventional prison system. Other methodological approaches, such as the human rights approach, sex and gender analysis and the Actors and Structures were invoked as complementary approaches to the unique and broad women’s law approach. For instance, she also interviewed key informants within and without the prison system to take on board their perceptions regarding the implementation of the open prison for female inmates.
The findings showed that female inmates are usually the primary care givers to their children; hence their incarceration impacts negatively on both them and their children. Further, children of incarcerated mothers constitute an invisible and vulnerable lot as the criminal justice system seems to focus on the criminal mother while forgetting about the best interests of their children. The children who get into prison with their mothers are exposed to the harsh conditions of conventional prison life and they tend to “serve†their mother’s sentence, while those children left at home lose parental care, risking physical and sexual abuse and neglect from alternative care givers, coupled with loss of contact with their incarcerated mothers. All this is exacerbated by the lack of government programmes specifically targeting such children and the unavailability of an open prison for female inmates which would reduce the challenges associated with a conventional prison.
It emerged that female inmates are confined to gendered rehabilitation activities, such as gardening and hairdressing, which do not attract a wider market and consequently income.
The study concluded by calling for: i) an open prison for female inmates as it would address most of the challenges faced by female inmates with children in the conventional prison system. ii) Application of the best interest of the child in the treatment of children throughout the criminal Justice system. iii) Non-gendered rehabilitation activities for female inmates and iv) Increased use of non-custodial sentences for deserving female offenders. All this would enable Zimbabwe to comply with her obligations to protect gender equality and the best interests of the child as provided in the Constitution and international conventions.,NORA