National Research Database of Zimbabwe
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Impact of the multi-campus system on quality education and service provision: case of MSU Zvishavane.
No full textThe purpose of the study was to establish the impact of the multi-campus system on quality of education and services provided by Midlands State University. MSU has since embarked on an operational system of multiple campuses hence the study sought to understand the possible impact this may have on quality of educated and services provision specifically at the satellite campus with direct comparisons to the institution’s conditions prior the inception of the new campus. The study takes note of how most development efforts that the university makes are partially related to the nation’s development initiatives as well thus the study also shows where it is evident, the attempts(by the institution) to improve quality of education and services while simultaneously addressing the nation’s Zim Asset blue print. To analyze this, the study focuses on three specific Key Result Areas which consist of provision of requisite structures, academic excellence and human capital management and development. The study then proceeds to give conclusions pertaining to each of the research questions before suggesting about 5 recommendations
Take us back to the graves of our ancestors! Land as a source and site of conflict in the Gutu District of Zimbabwe, 2000-2016.: Paper presented at Midlands State University International Research Conference held at Zvishavane Campus, 29-30 September 2017
No full textLand is a primary and fundamental, highly symbolic resource for the vast majority of African people. It is a core element in the complex social relations of production and reproduction. Being a valuable and immovable resource of limited quantity, its ownership and usage invoke emotional responses which spill into questions of autochthony and identity politics. As this paper demonstrates; how land should be used, owned and controlled and by whom has revealed a highly contested and conflictual terrain in Gutu. The volatile dynamics of conflict have not always conformed to the conventions of logic. Claims over ancestral land in Gutu have also had an impact on people’s identity and their feelings of connectedness with the social and cultural environment in its entirety. However ignoring these complexities has led to tenure reforms which have aggravated land-based conflict. In this paper, I argue that while conflict has been a symptom of persistent inequalities, it has provided an opportunity for the elite to consolidate their holdings of land and valuable resources. The reluctance by the District Administrator’s office to recognize and resolve lingering disputes born of the land and agrarian reform programmes has triggered extended protests and violence, prompting local-level institutions to make fragile and ill-conceived decisions on land ownership. With economic, symbolic and emotional aspects at stake, the Gutu experience is studied to show that while land has been a source of conflict, it remains an essential element in peace building in post-conflict situations
An investigation on the effectiveness of vat administration on revenue collection
No full textThis research focused on the effectiveness of VAT administration on revenue collection. The researcher observed during audit that revenue collected from VAT is continuously decreasing when the economy started to be unstable. VAT administration that was used when the economy was stable is still being used to the unstable economy and this has caused a lot of challenges in VAT administration. This has highly negatively affected revenue collection on VAT. Descriptive research design was used to gather data using questionnaires and interviews as research instruments. A sample of 45 people was used comprises of registered operators, VAT officers, line managers and the managing director of Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA). The research finding indicated that the effectiveness of VAT administration on revenue collection is affected by the instability of the economy of Zimbabwe. The effectiveness of VAT administration is affected through its factors that are the registration of VAT taxpayers, processing of VAT returns, and collection of VAT arrears, penalties and interest, VAT refunds, VAT rates, VAT audits. The respondents also noted that the effectiveness of VAT administration of revenue collection is negatively affected due to the current economic hardships. The recommendations that were made were that ZIMRA should revise its VAT administration that were used during the stable economy to suits the unstable economy through decrease of VAT threshold, VAT rate, payment plan, frequent of VAT audits, registering of informal sectors
An investigation to assess the impact of cost control on financial performance: ZETDC as a case study
No full textThis study sought to investigate the impact of cost control on the financial performance of ZETDC. The population sample was drawn from 33 employees of the organisation and stratified random sampling was used to come up with a sample of 20 workers. The results showed that cost control enhances financial performance through better decision making. However, the company has been denied by regulatory authorities to implement some of its decisions necessitated by cost control. Cost control is also being affected negatively by delays by customers to pay their outstanding bills, heavy costs associated with
implementation of cost control strategies and weak coordination between the management and workers. Poor cost control has adversely affected financial performance through failure to meet goals and objectives. The researcher recommends negotiations to be promoted between ZETDC and its regulatory authorities, cost-benefit-analysis to be done for every cost control strategy and
interaction between management and workers should be promoted. Long outstanding debtors should submit payment plans which can result on further action being taken on them if they default agreed payment arrangements. Management should regularly review the entity’s internal controls to ensure compliance with cost control policies and procedures
Pyritic metals sequestration on mine dumps treated with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus, Jacq.et Fr.)
No full textBackground
Mining activities can lead to the generation of large quantities of heavy metal laden wastes which are released into the environment in an uncontrolled manner, causing widespread contamination of the ecosystem. Bioremediation is an innovative and promising technology available for removal and recovery of heavy metals from polluted environments.
Methods
Field experiments based on a Latin Square Design were employed in this study in order to determine the effectiveness of oyster mushroom (P. ostreatus) as a bioremediation agent for the sequestration of pyritic heavy metals from mine dumps.
Results
Compared with the background values of heavy metals in virgin forest soil, concentrations of Mn2+; Cr2+; Pb2+; Fe3+; and Cd2+ were substantially enriched in the study sites. The propagation of oyster mushroom in wheat straw substrate and heavy metal-polluted pyritic mine waste, reduced considerably the concentrations of mobile heavy metals in the waste by 1.2 mg kg−1 (98%); 2.0 mg kg−1 (79%); 13.1 mg kg−1 (93%); 7.7 mg kg−1 (78%); and 6.5 mg kg−1 (88%) for Mn2+; Cr2+; Pb2+; Fe3+; and Cd2+, respectively. Results have shown that the greatest threat to the ecology in the mine dump sites is currently posed by Cd2+; Fe3+; and Pb2+, while the least ecological threat comes from the concentrations of Mn2+.
Conclusions
The mean levels of reductions in heavy metal concentrations in pyritic mine waste after mycoremedial interventions observed in the current study clearly indicate that, in bio-sorption, P. ostreatus is more efficient in sequestering Mn2+; Fe3+; and Cd2+, in that order. The oyster mushroom is less efficient in the bio-sorption of Cr2+ and Fe3+ from heavy metal polluted mine waste
An analysis on the effectiveness of conciliation and arbitration as labour dispute resolution mechanisms Zimbabwe
No full textA bone of contention always arises in labour relations and ADR systems have been established so as to rectify labour disputes. Zimbabwe has a dual juncture labour system whereby the labour laws are not harmonized as both private and public sector are governed by different labour statutes. The Public Service Regulations Act governs the Public service employees excluding the security forces whereas the Labour Act governs private sector employees, metropolitan councils and parastatals. The study addressed how labour disputes are resolved through conciliation and arbitration procedures in Zimbabwe. The underlying principles of conciliation and arbitration practice in the country which involves a number of factors namely accessibility, speed, privacy and costs which provides for parties concerned to seek justice. It can be noted that there are major drawbacks to conciliation and arbitration practice in Zimbabwe due to a number of challenges that are encountered which include the lack of competence amongst conciliators and arbitrators as there are no clear specific guidelines on how conciliation proceedings are conducted with each conciliator conducts proceedings in his or her own way deemed necessary as there are no training services offered by the Ministry of Labour on how disputes should be rectified. The study found out that the ADR conciliation and arbitration practice in Zimbabwe is ineffective as it lacks enforceable mechanisms for its determinations and awards and as a result disputes take a longer period to be finalized as they spill into local courts for registration and enforcement. The regulatory environment on labour relations is shallow in the sense that it lacks clear indications on the resolution of industrial conflicts in the provision of the time frame labour disputes are to be administered and finalized. The conflicting legislation which is often confusing thereby limiting effective operations in the resolution of disputes. The Labour Amendment Act distinguished disputes of rights and of interests whereby disputes of right upon failure of conciliation, the labour officer may issue a ruling or refer the dispute to compulsory arbitration. The legislation has no proper indications on the classifications of the distinguished disputes affecting the resolution of disputes in ADR. Various reforms of the labour legislation needs to be put forward so that ADR can be effective
An investigation into the challenges that are being faced in the use and teaching of computers in schools: a case of six secondary schools in Chihota district Mashonaland East province, for the period (2012-2017).
No full textThis study sought to find out the challenges being faced in the use and teaching of computers in secondary schools in Chihota District, Zimbabwe. Six
secondary schools in the Chihota rural area participated in the study.
Questionnaires and interviews were used as research instruments. Literature
related to the topic was reviewed in Chapter Two in order to get an insight on
the topic so as to develop a framework upon which findings were based. The
findings revealed that there were problems in the use and teaching of computers in schools. The major problems were lack of a dedicated ICT policy on education, shortage of computer equipment, shortage of computer teachers and technical personnel, inadequate funding to procure and repair computers and lack of electricity. The study recommended the government to put in place a dedicated policy for the use and teaching of computers in education. The policy would make it possible for the government to fully support the education sector by providing the necessary resources for the full implementation of the programme. Schools on the other hand were recommended to create specific computer budgets to buy computers, computer software and cater for computer repairs. Schools were also recommended to send their computer teachers for computer refresher courses and also buy reliable standby power supply equipment such as powerful generators and UPS systems in the event that there were power outages. Finally, school heads were recommended to engage the corporate world and form PPPs with whom they could ensure the smooth running of computer departments
An investigation of the role played by the youth and their involvement in politics from 1980 to 2016â€: case study Mbare
No full textThis study investigates the role played by the youth and their involvement in politics from 1980 to 2016, basing on Mbare. The will look from the transition of Chibwidos and Mujibhasi from the war and their integration into the society and the army. The formation of the 5th Brigade and its deployment in Matabeleland and its practices on the local people which led to more than 20 000 deaths including women and children, due to hunger, torture and abductions. The failure of the government to act and rescue the people as it was part of the strategy which was to prolong its stay in power. The research also looks at the role played by the youths in land invasions of 2000 and the damage it brought to the communities and the country at large. Also brings to light the emergence of a new generation youths leaders who became active in politics and violence that
occurred in Mbare. This study also looks at the formation of the youth brigades in 2000 by late Border Gezi and the role it played in ensuring that ZANU (PF) stayed in power. Furthermore the research looks at Chipangano and its extractives practises in Mbare, which led do devastation of properties, loss of human lives, torture and abductions. All this crimes are against humanity from 1980 to 2016 how they have gone unpunished, because they are done in the name of ZANU (PF). Interviews, books and internet sources have been extensively used by the researcher in gathering information. Personal observation has also allowed the researcher to compile the facts and finding of the study in a chronological manner