National Research Database of Zimbabwe
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Sites of Cultural significance In the BaTonga Culture: the case of Manjolo Communal lands, Binga.
No full textThe BaTonga are found in the north western part of Zimbabwe, a place known of high temperatures, dry and arid. For the few recent years the area has been climatologically transformed into receiving a less desirable amount of rainfall. The construction of the prevalent synthetic lake displaced and dispersed the BaTonga, with some settling in Zambia and Malawi. In Zimbabwe they have their scatterings elongating from Victoria Falls, Lupane, Hwange, Binga, Nyaminyami and Gokwe. The BaTonga is an ethnic group that, up to this day still clings on to its own cultural beliefs, life chic, customs and survival, whereas, some of these cultural
aspects have been heavily disrupted during the Kariba dam construction. The construction spelt cultural decimation for the BaTonga people who inhabited the Zambezi Valley. Their fiscal activity implicated gardening, fishing, cropping, keeping cattle, and using wild plants and animals. Promotion and safeguarding of a cultural identity of a displaced community is often prompted by chronic effects of development induced displacement over the years.â€However, the fact that the BaTonga people were displaced was not a means to an end; they still had their
traditions in their hearts. They managed to create shrines and have sacred mountains in their new locations. As such the identification and documentation of these heritage places would mean a better preservation for posterity. It would be different from the heritage sites that were drowned in the Zambezi and are known by a handful people who cannot even point the exact location of the heritage sites. Thus identification and documentation of cultural property plays a pivotal role in terms of protection of heritage
Workplace romance: rationale for human resource practitioners’ intervention. a case of a local authority in Zimbabwe
No full textAbstract,Workplace romance is a reality in many organizations, both at a global scale and in the Zimbabwe context but according to Powell and Foley (1998) it is also a subject that is rarely talked about by scholars evidenced by meagre scholarly literature. In this regard the high frequency in which these relationships occur has not been quite proportionate to the minimal attention that Zimbabwean H.R practitioners have given the subject of workplace romance. In this light, it is fundamental to explore workplace romance in a Zimbabwean context so as to further understand this phenomenon. Ariani et al. (2011) emphasize that H.R leaders should think more broadly and strategically about managing workplace romance. Furthermore, the scholars argue that the H.R leaders should be at the heart of managing workplace romance by taking ownership of and accountability for the challenging task of managing risks and rewards of workplace romance. This research study explored the forms of workplace romance in a local authority in Zimbabwe and the role played by Human Resource Practitioners in managing it. A sample size of 27 respondents was drawn from a sample frame of 73 employees who make up the staff compliment of personnel at the headquarters that houses the administrative departments of the local authority. Moreover, the research endeavour was qualitative in nature, making use of semi-structured interviews and semi-structured questionnaires as primary sources of data as well as company material and various literature as secondary data sources. The qualitative approach was resourceful in the research in as far as providing a rich, comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the subject under study
An assessment of surface water availability in the Pungwe Sub Catchment and development of an appropriate water allocation framework.
No full textPungwe River is a transboundary river which is shared between Zimbabwe (4.7% of land area) and Mozambique (97.3% of land area). The two governments are preparing a Bilateral Agreement on the management of water in the Pungwe River basin to allow part of the total runoff generated in Zimbabwe to flow to Mozambique. This is in line with the SADC and other International protocols governing the use of international Rivers. Zimbabwe needs to have a water allocation system that is equitable and fair to comply with this agreement. Part of the catchment from Zimbabwe is not gauged further constraining the testing of alternative allocation systems that can be adopted by Zimbabwe. The aim of this research is to assess surface water availability in the tributaries of Pungwe River and Honde River and develop a water allocation framework to guide Pungwe sub-catchment council in water allocation.
The Pitman model was used to generate surface runoff for the Pungwe River and Honde River catchments. The Pitman model was calibrated and validated using observed runoff for three gauging stations (F14, F22 and F23). A WAFLEX model was set up to evaluate different water allocation systems. The models were run to assess the performance of the different water allocation systems in terms of water shortages for different users within the sub catchment and satisfying proposed international flow obligations. Three water allocation practices were investigated namely proportional, proportional combined with priority and market based water allocation system.
The Pitman model was found to be suitable for modelling the Pungwe Sub-catchment area with model results providing a NSE value of 0.7 and R2 value of 0.8 between observed and modelled stream flows. Results from the WAFLEX model showed that international obligations would be 100% satisfied under all the water allocation practices in Pungwe micro-catchment. However shortages were noted in Honde micro-catchment. Proportional combined with priority water allocation practice improved satisfaction with an average 20% agricultural water uses in Pungwe micro-catchment and 10% in Honde micro-catchment. Proportional combined with priority water allocation practice was considered the best practice to be used by the sub catchment. The data generated from this research has to be incorporated in the allocation of permits in the sub catchment and transboundary management of the Pungwe Basin.,WaterNe
History, migration and identity in contemporary Zimbabwean biography as reflected in Peter Orner and Annie Holmes’ (2010) Hope Deferred: Narratives of Zimbabwean Lives
No full textThis article endeavours to establish the relationship between history, migration and identity in contemporary Zimbabwean biography as reflected in Peter Orner and Annie Holmes’ Hope Deferred: Narratives of Zimbabwean Lives. History is conceptualised as a heterogeneous discourse constitutive of conflictual and competing personal and public histories that contest for hegemony in defining individual and national identities. Through the power of narration, the various characters explored do not just engage in storytelling but are (un) consciously reworking their life trajectories and deliberately redefining and reconstructing their identities, especially their political identities. This reconfiguration is attributed to the political landscape
of Zimbabwe that has largely been shaped by Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front’s political leadership and ideological hegemony since 1980. However, this dominance is being challenged and undermined by the personal histories of individuals who engage in (forced) migration and thus are able to author and construct counter/alternative narratives and identities
An investigation on the effectiveness of centralisation on the financial performance of Cimas medical laboratories
No full textThe research was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of centralisation on the financial performance of Cimas Medical Laboratories. The objectives sought to find out the effects of centralisation of authority on the financial performance of an organisation. Descriptive design was used in this study and the presentation, analysis and interpretation of data was done using tables, charts and graphs. A sample of 30 participants was used being drawn from the population and management of employees of 48 participants. Data gathering methods used include questionnaires and interviews and these provided data for the research. This was presented in graphs, tables and charts as also expressed as percentages. The ethical issues were also considered to maintain confidentiality. No disclosure should be made on the data received from the research subjects but only for the intended use which is for academic purposes. It was found that centralisation has more of negative effects which hinder the operations of an organisation as compared to the positive effects. These hindrances in the operation of an organisation negatively affect the financial performance of an organisation. These negative effects among others include increases in costs, running out of inventory and delays in performance of works. The recommendations made centred mostly on the delegation of authority, which is the decentralisation of decision making to lower management level
Assessing the effectiveness of the community child care workers (CCWs) in the National Case Management System in Child Protection: case of Zhombe ward 9 and 10.
No full textThe study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of Community Child Care Workers in child protection case management. The study interest cropped up after realizing some diversion of the CCWs from meeting the set goals; increased frequency in unreported cases of child abuse in form of sexual, physical, psychological/neglect and emotional; unreported cases of child marriages, child labor, out of school and school dropouts as well as increased child headed
households and increased prevalence in teenage HIV/AIDS cases and lastly, increased number of children out of school and children on the neglected loitering in Zhombe communal area. The study was conducted qualitatively and designed in a case study of which Zhombe ward 9 and 10 made the case in which data was generated and findings were generalized. The study had a total population sample of twenty six (24) participants, comprised of ten (10) Community Child Care Workers (CCWs), four (4) In-School Child Protection Committee members (CPCs), two (2) Ward CPCs and eight (8) representatives of various stakeholders. Data was mainly generated through fourteen(14) questionnaires selfadministered to the randomly sampled CCWs and CPCs drawn from ward 9 and 10
respectively and through face to face interviews with eight purposively chosen participants drawn from different stakeholders interested and operating in child protection issues in the two wards. Data was analyzed through SPSS v 16.0. The study found out that the major role/functions and mandate of the CCWs included: identifying cases and assessing needs of vulnerable children; Formulating Action Plan; Implementing the action plan; Recording the action implemented; Case Reviewing and track recording; Referring cases and case followups; Identifying new problems or challenges arising in the communities; Closing cases;
Establish family clubs and support groups for communities. The study further found six major challenges faced by the CCWs in performing their role and mandate namely, lack of training; infrequent trainings; lack of financial motivation/incentives, cultural factors, lack of legal protection, poverty and lack of community support. The study recommends the following strategies to improve the effectiveness of the CCWs in child protection case management. The need to incentivize the CCWs either in monetary terms or non-monetary benefits; community sensitization and concretization on the importance, role of CCWs and on the scope of CCWs; authorizing CCWs to close cases and allocating more resource i.e. uniforms and identity cards and more trainings for the CCWs
An Investigation on the Adoption of Employee Voice and Its Impact on Employee Engagement: A Case for Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
No full textMany organizations especially in the public sector face the challenges of managing and empowering their employees to actively participate in decision making which has led to high rates of disengaged and demotivated employees who are not customer focused and less productive. Employee voice is therefore very crucial to the fortunes of any organisation as it is through the successful implementation of employees’ contributions that the goals of an organisation can be achieved. This dissertation therefore looked at a quasi-government owned organisation (ZIMRA), to investigate the adoption of employee voice and looked at the impact of the voice mechanisms there present on employee engagement. This research would contribute to the literature on employee voice in organizations that employ a dual system of direct voice and indirect voice by identifying and validating the factors that influence employee voice in the organizations from the perspective of employees and the employer. The type of design for this study is a case study approach and it relied on primary data through the use of questionnaires and interviews.
The research reports the positive findings of the relationship between employee voice and employee engagement. It was also reviewed from the research findings that despite the application of various employee voice mechanisms in the organisation employees still felt that they are not fully involved in decision making as they regarded some of the mechanisms as ineffective in providing them with a voice. It is therefore recommended that employees’ views and ideas are sought on matters that affect their lives and work and they should also be empowered to make decisions through which they will have a sense of self-worth and feeling of belonging that they will be engaged and willing to give their best to the organisation. Finally the findings of the study will be useful in helping leaders better understand how voice works in their organization as it will provide practical suggestions for how better to support employee voice and harness its impact.,Lupane State Universit
An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Employee Retention Strategies in The Education Sector. A Case Study of Bulilima District.
No full textThe main thrust of this study carried out is to evaluate the effectiveness of retention strategies in Zimbabwean parastatals. Human capital is a precious commodity that plays a pivotal role within the organisation and contributes directly to its success or failure. Central to this philosophy, organisations should craft strategies to retain their critical talent in this cut throat war for talent. The research was inspired by the notion that if employees are satisfied and motivated by the working environment, compensation, career growth, employee relationship and organizational support they are likely to stick around the organisation for a lengthy period of time. This study was conducted at ZINWA which means the research design was a case study. The researcher used convenience and judgmental sampling methods. The information was obtained through conducting interviews and administering questionnaires to 35 respondents and 29 of them responded. The study was approached using the mixed methodology, quantitative data was analysed statistically and thematically for qualitative data. Study results revealed that parastatals have some effective retention strategies in place mostly for the top management which brought dissatisfaction to the lower level employees. Most of the lower levels employees acknowledged that there are other reasons for staying with the organisation not because the strategies are effective. In view of this, the researcher recommended that these strategies should cascades to the lower levels. Future researchers in this subject are challenged to further look into this issue particularly on a broader perspective as this research only looked at one organization.,Lupane State Universit
Climate change and the efficacy of conservation agriculture in the 2015/2016 farming season: a case study of smallholder farmers in Sianzyundu Ward (Binga).
No full textThe study was an exploration of the efficacy of conservation agriculture in the 2015/2016 farming season in Sianzyundu ward in Binga. A meta-analysis on the 2015/2016 farming season provides a gloomy picture of events, the season has been the worst ever recorded in the past decade for most parts of the world. The early stage of the season was characterized with severe rainfall deficits, delays in the onset of the season, heat waves as well as a hot and dry spells. Heavy downpours were experienced in February and March 2016. The 2915 Elnino insurgency resulted in wide scale droughts such as crop loses, food insecurity and poor agricultural production was felt especially in East and Southern Africa. The study endowed a triangulation method and the objectives were to examine the perceptions of farmers on climate change and to explore the impact of conservation agriculture as a mitigation strategy to climate change induced food insecurity. The findings of the study are that climate change is now a widely recognized phenomenon and its effects have gained severity such that they cannot be ignored. Conservation Agriculture now remains Africa’s only hope for farming and mitigating climate change induced food insecurity. Conservation Agriculture in the 2015/2016 farming season was shaken (for Sianzyundu ward). The majority of conservation farmers will experience a decline in their yields for this season and food insecurity at household level is likely to prolong throughout the year 2016. However, a few farmers replanted and these will get a bumper harvest in the season as compared to the past seasons
A Process evaluation of small scale livestock production and enhanced marketing project
No full textErratic low rainfall patterns and recurrent droughts in the district affected crop production. The country’s economic meltdown worsened the situation impeding government from investing in infrastructures like irrigation schemes to reverse the situation. Resultantly, families failed to provide enough food and earn cash for their families.in an effort to improve food security, plan implemented a small livestock (goat) pass –on project buttressed with market development skills trainings. The pass-on entails that, the first line recipients received two “she†goats which they would pass on to the next beneficiary in a group of six and remain with the offspring after a year.300 farmer groups in 8 wards of Mutare district benefited. Market development provided farmers with ready market to sell their surplus goats and other value products like meat, milk and leather. The process evaluation assessed whether the project conformed to its initial plan to address the key problems as set out in the needs assessment and project proposal. Document review, focus group discussions (FDGS), household structured questionnaires and key informant interview (KII) were used for data collection. The sampling was purposive, targeting families knowledgeable on issues relevant to the study. Graphs and tables were used to present the data. Major findings were that, the project is making immense effort to address the key problems as set out in the needs assessment and project proposal. Delays in the procurement and distribution of goats due to local market incapacity to mobilize enough goat quantities affected project progress. This scenario was also aggravated by significant losses of goats faced due to acclimazation challenge