National Research Database of Zimbabwe
Not a member yet
5897 research outputs found
Sort by
Challenges faced by local authorities in solid waste management: a case of Beitbridge town council.
No full textSolid waste management has become a major public health and environmental concern in Zimbabwe is no exception. The magnitude of the problems being faced due to improper Solid Waste Management cannot be understated for example Open dumping and burning of municipal solid waste is a common phenomenon in most towns in Zimbabwe. The academic study regarding solid waste management has been widely researched focusing on larger cities like Harare by scholars (e.gTevera ,1991;DNR ,1994 ;Milgrud ,1995 ;Gandure ,1997 ;Mafusire ,1997;Jamare 1998 ; Kativu ,2001 ,Makwara and Magudu, 2013) hence there is lack of comparative research on small border towns. This shows that the existing research has not be exhaustive and is limited on geographical coverage .As a result ,there is lack of information on Solid waste management affecting small towns especially border towns. However in addressing this issue a research was conducted in Beitbridge. The aim was to assess the challenges in which Beitbridge town council face in addressing solid waste management, some of the challenges are poor management practices such as burning of municipal and illegal dumping, the council lacks machinery for refuse collection such as trucks, compactors etc., poor community engagement in solid waste due to ignorance and lack of awareness. A total of 30 questionnaires were given to the targeted population which includes residents and council staff. Interviews were also conducted. It was noted that the council is selling bins to the community at an unaffordable price; therefore some people are failing to purchase them, hence end up doing illegal dumping because they do not have the proper bins. The recommendation which was given is that the local authority to sell bins at an affordable price
Management of in-situ surface collections at Great Zimbabwe World Heritage Site
No full textThe study sought to investigate the policies and protocols of managing in-situ surface collectionsat Great Zimbabwe WHS. The research employed a number of methodological approaches that included surveying, mapping, observations, interviews and review of documents such as site conservations reports and memorandums to understand and collect data for the management of in-situ surface collections at Great Zimbabwe which was essential in addressing the research objectives. The research objectives were to identify the policies and protocols and the role of managing in-situ surface collections. To identify the variability, density and distribution of surface collections and to assess the impact of fireguards to in-situ surface collections.The study confirms that indeed there are policies in the management of in-situ surface collections at the site and that there is a great deal of surface collections found in variability across the Great Zimbabwe landscape the include potsherds, glass beads and dagga structures which play a significant role in the reconstruction of past activities at Great Zimbabwe World Heritage Site. The study also indicated negative impact of fireguard clearance to in-situ surface collections. Consequently this study relatively suggests that these policies formally recognize the international, national and local interests in the preservation of in-situ surface collections. However NMMZ is failing to be assertive and to effective in implementing these policies in
some cases of development at the site which has a detrimental effect in the management of insitu surface archaeological deposits
GGE biplot analysisof genotypes by environment interaction on sorghum bicolor L. (Moench) in Zimbabwe
No full textThe genotype by environment interaction (GEI) reduces the success of genotype selection and recommendations by breeders, thus slowing down the progress of plant breeding. The understanding of genotype by environment interaction (GEI) multi-locational yield trials (MLYT) enables researchers to identify locations which are efficient in distinguishing tested genotypes, which are ideal across the test-locations as well as environments which are good representatives of the target regions of interest. The main objective of the study was to assess the genotype by environment interaction on grain yield stability of promising sorghum genotypes across five diverse environments of Zimbabwe. Sorghum yield data of twenty-seven cultivars was obtained from the replicated trials. After performing a pooled analysis of variance for grain yield across five diverse environments during the 2013/14 rainy season, the GxE interaction was significant (P<0.001), and this justified need for testing for GEI components using the GGE biplot analysis to enhance the understanding the effects of components. The results revealed that three mega-environments were identifiable which are Matopos, Save-Valley and Kadoma falling in one mega-environment, then Makoholi was identified as a second mega-environment and then Gwebi was identified as the third mega-environment. Gwebi had the most discriminating ability and good representativeness whereby Save Valley had a poor discriminating ability as well as least representativeness
Growth performance of broilers fed on sprouted-roasted guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) based diets
No full textIn a completely randomized block design with 96 Cobb-500 broilers, a study was conducted to evaluate the potential of dietary inclusion of sprouted then roasted guar bean in broiler diets. The 96 male day-old broiler chicks, blocked by pen into equal weight groups of six chicks replicated four times per treatment, were randomly allocated to treatment diets containing graded levels of sprouted then roasted guar bean meal (GBM) at 0, 50, 100 and 150 g kg−1 inclusion level. The guar bean was sprouted and roasted to reduce guar gum effect. Total feed intake decreased significantly as the guar bean meal content increased in the starter phase (P 0.05) were observed. Diets containing 0 and 50 g kg−1 GBM recorded significantly higher total feed intake compared to the diet containing 150 g kg−1 GBM. Although average weight gain was not significantly different in birds fed 0 and 50 g kg−1 GBM diets, it was significantly higher than in birds fed on 100 and 150 g kg−1 GBM diets. Feed conversion ratio was not significantly different among treatment groups (P > 0.05) but showed a general decreasing trend with increasing guar bean meal inclusion level, the effect being more pronounced during the starter phase. In conclusion, the optimum inclusion level of sprouted then roasted guar bean meal in broiler diets is 50 g kg−1
Impact of adoption of drought-tolerant maize varieties on total maize production in south Eastern Zimbabwe
No full textDrought is a huge limiting factor in maize production, mainly in the rain-fed agriculture of sub-Saharan Africa. In response to this threat, drought-tolerant (DT) maize varieties have been developed with an aim to ensure maize production under mild drought conditions. We conducted a study to assess the impact of smallholder farmers’ adoption of DT maize varieties on total maize production. Data for the study came from a survey of 200 randomly sampled households in two districts of Chiredzi and Chipinge in southeastern Zimbabwe. The study found that 93% of the households were growing improved maize varieties and that 30% of the sampled households were growing DT maize varieties. Total maize yield was 436.5 kg/ha for a household that did not grow DT maize varieties and 680.5 kg/ha for households that grew DT maize varieties. We control for the endogeneity of the DT adoption variable, by using the control function approach to estimate total maize production in a Cobb–Douglas model. The results show that households that grew DT maize varieties had 617 kg/ha more maize than households that did not grow the DT maize varieties. Given that almost all farmers buy their seeds in the market, a change in varieties to DT maize seeds gives an extra income of US$240/ha or more than nine months of food at no additional cost. This has huge implications in curbing food insecurity and simultaneously saving huge amounts of resources at the household and national levels, which are used to buy extra food during the lean season
The impact of debt finance on financial performance of a firm: a case of Telone private limited
No full textThe main objective of the study research was to determine the impact of debt finance on financial performance using a case of a company in the telecommunications sector and which is not quoted at the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange: TelOne Pvt Ltd. The major issue that gave rise and prompted the researcher to study across this area was the increased levels in debt funding of projects in the organisation of which no increase in financial performance was being marked. The study employed a mixed approach in answer the research questions which were both quantitative and qualitative. The information and data was gathered from secondary and primary sources which consisted of financial statements and questionnaires as well as interviews with a population of 30 from which a sample of 20 was incorporated. The statistical packages used for analysis of quantitative data were Excel and SPSS 20 and the variables incorporated in the study included long term debt, short term debt, diversification and tangibility and these were the independent variables whereas ROA was the measure of financial performance and dependent variable of the study. The key findings of the study shows that debt funding was significantly and statistically negatively impacting on ROA of the organisation which was a measure of financial performance. The study results showed that at significance level of 5%, the relationship between debt capital and financial performance was significant at close to 4% and therefore the null hypothesis of the study was not rejected. The study further revealed that 68% of the variations in financial performance were explained by debt capital and diversification and this meant that the organisation was relying too much on debt capital. The study recommended the organisation to utilise debt capital as the last resort as the costs of debt capital were found to be outweighing the benefits generated from the debt funded projects
Evaluating the water quality within the reticulation system of Kwekwe municipality during the dry and wet seasons
No full textThe research sought to evaluate the water quality within the reticulation system of Kwekwe municipality during the dry and wet seasons and to measure the water quality parameters such as pH, turbidity, total coliforms, free and combined chlorine from the source, final stage of treatment and throughout the distribution system. It also had to consider how distance from one sampling point to another affect the quality of water. It had to consider measurement, the water treatment process, causes for poor water quality as well as desired international standards of World and Health Organisation, (WHO). Data was collected from nine different sampling points including schools, clinics, residential areas of Mbizo and Amaveni, Dutchman Pool Waterworks formerly known as Sebakwe Treatment Works as well as dam water. The data was collected in January and February 2016 representing wet season as well as in May and June 2016 representing dry season. Laboratory tests were conducted in order to analyse the quality of water at the different sampling sites. For statistical analysis both one way and two way ANOVA were used. Regression analysis was done to establish a relationship between water quality parameters and distance
The effectiveness of anti- poaching strategies on Zimbabwe’s tourism sector: a case study of Zambezi National Park
No full textThis research assessed the contribution and effectiveness of the antipoaching strategies on Zimbabwe’s tourism sector. The main objectives were to identify the antipoaching strategies in Zimbabwe and at Zambezi National Park, to evaluate Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, to assess the feasibility of the antipoaching strategy and to determine if these antipoaching strategies were effective on Zimbabwe’s tourism sector. The research collected data from selected residents and from the staff from Zambezi National Park. The general conclusion was that the antipoaching strategies were indeed effective in promoting the tourism sector of Zimbabwe although there was room for improvement since poaching continued to persist in the country hence affecting tourism. Recommendations brought forward to improve the impact of antipoaching strategies on tourism included the engagement of donors, penalty increment on poachers, use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and the full engagement of the citizens
Results based management as a tool for effective service delivery: in the case of Chegutu municipality.
No full textThe main aim of research was to examine the relationship between Results Based Management and service delivery in the case of Chegutu Municipality. Results Based Management is a concept that introduced to local authorities as way to improve quality of service delivery since most local authorities have been providing poor service delivery to the community. However, there no policy guidelines in this respect, local authorities can choose to adopt or not to adopt Results Based Management. Chegutu Municipality is the one of those local authorities which has adopted Results Based Management in Zimbabwe. In the chapter one the researcher discussed the background of the study citing the history of council and the concept of Results Based Management .The statement of the problem was to assess whether Results Based Management have improved quality of service delivery in Chegutu Municipality or not. The main objectives of the study was to identify the reasons for the adoption of Results Based Management in local authorities, to examine how Chegutu Municipality adopted Results Based Management, to determine the link between Results Based Management and service delivery and to determine the impacts of Results Based Management on service delivery .Results Based Management was defined as a way of managing organization by ensuring that all its processes, products and services are contributed to the achievements of desired results. Results Based Management was adopted in local authorities to uphold accountability and transparency, to promote effectiveness, efficiency and strong capacity building, to reduce opportunities and pressure for corruption, to promote better communication of programs and projects and to improve quality of service delivery. The researcher used descriptive and case study research design in carrying out the research and used a sample size of 52 respondents from Chegutu Municipality. The researcher used judgmental sampling to select councillors and management as well as simple random sampling to select employees. Questionnaires and interviews were used as research instruments. The data collected was analysed and presented in form of graphs, pie charts and tables. The findings of the study showed that Chegutu Municipality has extremely improved in service delivery because of the introduction of Results Based Management. It has improved in infrastructural development, social services, environmental management and in performance management and budgetary control. However, the employees have capacity problems because of low educational levels, the community has problems in identify projects and programs and the local authority is facing financial challenges to carry out identified projects and programs. The research recommends the council to sensitize stakeholders about Results Based Management, to train Results Based Management trainers who would train employees and to have purposive funding for identified projects and programs
Experiences of children who have gone through the foster care program in Zimbabwe.
No full textThe research examined the experiences of children who have gone through the foster care program in Zimbabwe. Children coming into foster care would have been take away from their parents may be facing emotional, psychological and behavioural problems due to the turmoil, abuse and negligence they may have experienced as such it is critical to emphasise the healing aspect of foster care. There are certain challenges from the system which need to be addressed. This research was guided by three research questions, how foster care positively impacted the lives of children in Zimbabwe, the major challenges faced by children who go through foster care and central issues in foster care which children want to be addressed. In order to understand the experiences of children in foster care, a case study which is an explorative design was used. Data
was collected using the purposive sampling targeting 24 foster children, 6 registered foster parents and 2 probation officers, all participants being from Harare province. In-depth interviews were conducted. The study established that foster children experience improved lifestyle during placements, having the opportunity to be part of a family, have access to better education and
being part of an open society where they can create lifelong relationships. Foster care system has challenges which include failure by the children to adjust to the home environment, lack of basic needs and lack of government support. Conclusively, the research discovered that more needs to be done to improve the foster care. The research recommended increased public awareness to
provoke and attract new candidates for foster parents in the country, provision of support from the government to the foster parents in form of grants, health and educational assistance