National Research Database of Zimbabwe
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An assessment of brand awareness strategies used by Peace Security Company to enhance brand visibility
No full textThis research sought to assess the effectiveness of brand awareness strategies that were implemented by Peace Security to enhance brand visibility. The study was motivated by intense competition in the security industry, stagnant market share growth and dominance of a few brands in an industry with over a 1500 registered security companies. Peace security has been in the security industry for more than a decade but remained little known compared to late entrants despite various brand awareness strategies in place. The major aims therefore were to ascertain the reasons for enhancing brand visibility at Peace security, the challenges faced in enhancing their brand visibility and determine other reasons besides brand awareness that influence choice of a security brand. The models that underpinned the study included the brand awareness dimension model showing different levels of brand visibility, brand identity prism for creating brand image, touchpoint model, spiral model and brand community theory which shows how customers develop awareness of a brand, understand it, associate with a brand and develop brand loyalty. A descriptive research approach was adopted in which questionnaires and interviews were used to collect both qualitative and quantifiable data. A target population of 96 was used which comprised of Peace security management, employees and clients in which a sample of 35% was used to ensure timely conclusion of the study and easier handling of information. The findings were presented using tables and analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The findings revealed that the major reasons for enhancing brand visibility at Peace security were to increase market share, influence brand choice and increase marketing communication. They were facing several challenges, the major ones being costs, competition, absence of a branding department and brand loyalty. The major factors found to influence brand choice in the security industry included; price, service quality, legal compliance and track record or experience. The researcher concluded that the brand awareness strategies were not effective given challenges associated with the implementation and that some of their clients complemented the company services with those of its competitors. The researcher recommended that Peace Security Company should continue to enhance brand visibility, invest in their brand by establishing and operationalizing a branding department and strive to provide comprehensive security services through innovation and new security products development
An investigation of the effects of non-implementation of internal audit recommendations on the financial performance of an organisation: a case of MSU.
No full textThis research was undertaken to investigate the effects of impact of non-implementation of internal audit recommendations on the financial performance of MSU. The objective of this study is to identify factors hindering the implementation of internal audit recommendations and to determine the relationship between effective implementation of the recommendations and organisational performance. The research is qualitative in nature. The research was based on case study of Midlands State University. Likert scale questionnaires and structured interviews were used as research instruments. The descriptive research design method was also used in gathering data on a chosen sample of 45 participants. Primary sources of data were used in gathering data namely questionnaires and face to face interviews and 90% respond rate was obtained from data gathering.
Major findings showed that the lack of finance and resources and the lack of progress checks or follow ups are the major factors and challenges affecting the implementation process thus resulting in higher business risk. The researcher recommended that regular progress checks and follows ups be made by the IAF and an established, vibrant audit committee and also training and continuous development of management and employees at MSU to appreciate the functions and value of the internal audit team and also stay abreast with happenings in the business environment. The research was a success with an originality report result of 7%
Work-family interactions: experiences of underground mine workers at Unki in Shurugwi
No full textThe study explored the lived experiences of underground mine workers at Unki in Shurugwi special attention being on their work-family interaction. The developing portrayal of double worker families, single-parent families and families with senior care obligations, the overflow of women into non-conventional occupations and employments and the expanded association of men in the family area are quite recently a contributing factor of the progressions that have affected family structures. Using a qualitative descriptive research the researcher collected data from a sample of 13 participants. Data was obtained using semi-structured interviews. The researcher sorted the gathered information in thematic categories and a number of subthemes emerged, work-family conflict, family-work conflict, experiences in the working environment, interaction between work and home life, social life and well-being, personal aspects, work aspects, personal strategies and organizational strategies. These helped to further explore and answer formulated research questions. Findings of the research indicated that despite the efforts put by participants to separate the family and the work domain, the two remain correlated domains that are difficult to separate. And thus failure to sustain a balance between the home and family sphere remains the major source of physical and psychological strain for both male and female participants in the mining industry
Result based management and service delivery: the case study of Buhera Rural District Council.
No full textThe research analyses the link between Results Based Management and service delivery, the case of Buhera Rural District Council was used. Results Based Management is a new concept introduced in local authorities as a panacea to improve service delivery since most local authorities have been performing poorly in service provision. The Buhera Rural District Council is one of the few local authorities which have adopted Results Based Management in Zimbabwe. In the introductory chapter the researcher highlighted the background of the study citing the history of the council and the concept of Results Based Management. The statement of the problem inquired whether RBM has improved service delivery in Buhera or not. The research aims to identity- the reasons for adopting Results Based Management in local authorities, to examine how Results Based Management works, to determine the link between Results Based Management and service delivery and to determine the impact of Results Based Management on service delivery. Hence RBM is directly linked to service delivery. The researcher used descriptive and case study research designs in carrying out the research. A target population of 35 people and a sample of 25 respondents comprising of management, council employees and councillors was used. 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 analyzed and presented in form of graphs, pie charts, frequency tables and tables. The findings of the study showed that BRDC has extremely improved in service delivery because of the introduction of RBM. 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 RBM to train RBM trainers who would train employees and to have purposive funding for identified projects and programme
The impact of branding on corporate identity: a case study of Midlands State University
No full textThe study focused on the impact of branding on corporate identity on a public university. It sought to establish how the public universities can embrace branding as a way to establish a strong corporate identity and the perceived institutional benefits, differentiation, enhance corporate image, improve corporate reputation as well fight competition in the wake of globalisation, marketization of higher education and existing economic challenges. The study was conducted at Midlands State University’s newly established Zvishavane Campus.The study draws a comparative analysis of branding from established public Universities in Kenya and South Africa.The methodology used in this research was qualitative with data collection from primary sources through the use of interviews, documentary reviews and questionnaire administration as well as from secondary sources through library research and internet. The results revealed that the newly established public universities has resorted to branding not only to enhance a strong corporate identity as branding is alsopart of strategic intangible assets for growth and survival in a competitive environment. The issues of reputation, image and personality has thus brought in a new dimension in the Higher Education sector primarily based on attaining a competitive edge, differentiation and enhance perceived identity of the institution which wholly emanate from the brand. The study concluded that the concept of branding and corporate identity in relation to public universities, is somehow a new phenomenon which is different from branding in the commercial sector.The studyalso revealed dynamics in branding as public universities cannot solely rely on symbols, colours and visual artefacts alone as branding depends on the event, purpose and the message to be communicated.The researcher identified patenting as the major challenge to University branding and recommended that due to the nature of Higher Education Sector branding should be more concerned about creating a who we are for the University which can be equated to the institution's academic reputation as public universities tend to look alike over time and compete less on quality or the price and seek to enhance corporate reputation, strong institutional governance, stakeholder engagement as well as image and personality
An analysis of the challenges faced by youth in accessing the Zimbabwe youth empowerment fund: the case of Mutare district
No full textThe research aimed at analysing the challenges faced by youth in accessing the youth fund using Mutare District as the case study. The researcher went further to illustrate various legal frameworks that the government has established in a bid to deal with the economic, social and political problems facing youth in Zimbabwe. The researcher has focused on the duty of the government in ensuring the fulfillment of the needs of the youth in Zimbabwe. The study looked at the importance of youth empowerment in the form of youth fund whereby the government of Zimbabwe has launched various Youth Fund schemes aimed at curbing unemployment in the country. This study had focused on the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund which was launched by the government to enable youth to start their own businesses so that they can support themselves. The researcher also looked at the causes and effects of unemployment and other countries that have been involved in the empowerment programmes. The study findings have shown that the challenges faced by youth in acquiring funds are mainly caused by the funding institutions themselves for example the politicization and corruption on the distribution of these funds has been a major challenge faced by Youth in Mutare District. The researcher has recommended on what the government should do in order to solve the problems that the youth are facing in accessing funds thereby ensuring a successful youth empowerment in the country
Challenges of local authorities service delivery: a case study of Bulawayo city council (BCC)
No full textThis study was carried out to evaluate the challenges of local service delivery at Bulawayo City Council. The researcher used analytical survey method which enabled the researcher to collect a lot of information regarding the study. Secondary source of available literature relating to the council was used. The researcher used random sampling; questionnaires were used to capture data from 13 residential areas. Questionnaires were distributed in 5 departments of Bulawayo Municipality to collect data. The results confirmed that there were lots of challenges faced by service seekers of Bulawayo Municipality. The challenges which mostly emanate from fatal economic doldrums caused instability that affects the success of council policies working towards improving service delivery thus curtailing the challenges thereof
Constraints to crop production and adaptation strategies of smallholder farmers in semi-arid Central and Western Zimbabwe.
No full textSmallholder farmer agricultural productivity in developing countries is limited by diverse biotic and abiotic constraints. They have, however, developed adaptive strategies to cope with some of these constraints, thereby strengthening their resilience to various stresses. The objective of this study was to establish crop production constraints faced by smallholder farmers in semi-arid Lower Gweru and Lupane areas of Zimbabwe, as well as coping and adaptation strategies used. Focus group discussions and structured interviews were used to collect data. High rainfall variability (CV = 0.30) had the highest ranking (most important), followed by shortage of inputs collectively, from focus group discussions. Farmers adapted to rainfall variability mostly through choice of crop and planting dates, adjusting the levels of inputs (fertiliser in particular) they used, as well as by resorting to cropping in areas with a high water table. Sixty percent of the farmers in both communal areas experienced shortage of planting seed, while shortage of fertiliser was reported by 75 and 30% of the farmers in Lower Gweru and Lupane, respectively. Labour was a major constraint to 65 and 20% of the farmers in both locations, respectively; while draft power shortage affected 50 and 25% of the farmers. About 50% of the farmers in Lupane reported the problem of crop damage by elephants. The HIV and AIDs pandemic and poor soils were also reported during focus group discussions. Farmers coped with input shortages by hiring and sharing resources. They reduced damage from elephants by harvesting their crops early. The effect of HIV/AIDs weakened the labour force and some communities in the study areas helped affected families by working in their field
Let us prey! Prey selection and dietary overlap amongst large predators in a semi-arid landscape, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
No full textComprehensive knowledge on the distribution and densities of large carnivores and their prey is necessary in order to understand conservation of carnivores and to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. In order to understand large carnivore ecologies, their diet, dietary overlap, niche breadth and seasonal variation was determined. Fecal analysis method was used in the determination of the diet of lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas was studied in a semi-arid savannah ecosystem of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Fecal analysis revealed 20 Mammalian, 1 Rodentia and 1 Avian species ranging from small birds and rodents to large mammals. No domestic livestock prey item was found in the feces. The diet of the five large carnivores overlapped significantly. Large and medium-sized ungulates were the most frequent, with buffalo and impala being the most important prey species. Buffalo was the primary and secondary prey species for lions and hyenas respectively, and impala was the primary prey species for leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas, and secondary prey species for lions. Diets of the carnivores significantly varied in the utilization of different prey-size categories (p 100 kg) contributed mostly to the diet of lions and hyenas, medium-sized prey (25-100 kg) contributed mostly to the diet of leopards and wild dogs, and small prey (5-25 kg) to the diet of cheetahs. Seasonal variation was not significant (p = 0.29) in the utilization of different prey size categories. For the diet of lions significant variation (p < 0.05) was detected in the large and medium-sized categories and no significant variation (p = 0.11) in the small sized category. Continuous annual investigations into the seasonal variations of diet selection by the large carnivores in Hwange National Par
Investigating the impact of the shadow economy on tax revenue performance in Zimbabwe (1980-2015)
No full textDespite the tax reforms that have been implemented in Zimbabwe over the years, tax revenue collections have failed to reach sustainable levels that promote growth, development, improve standards of living and most importantly ease the persistent budget deficit problem. One of the major potential threats to tax revenue performance is the shadow economy; it plays a significant role in deteriorating the tax base and this often diminishes tax potential. This motivated an analysis on the potential impact of the shadow economy on tax revenue performance, with the aim of coming up with policy recommendations that will revive the tax performance, help ease the budget deficit problem and boost economic performance. Using annual time series data stretching from 1980 to 2015 and OLS regression, the study examined the impact of the shadow economy on tax revenue performance with a model that included other determinants of tax revenue such as foreign direct investment, government consumption, inflation, real interest rate, agricultural sector share of GDP and manufacturing sector share of GDP. The research results revealed that the shadow economy has a positive significant impact on tax revenue and also indicated that foreign direct investment, government consumption, real interest rate and inflation are compellingly significant in determining tax revenue performance. The study recommend the need to formulate policies that are aimed at enhancing the tax administrative capacity, enforcing voluntary compliance and supporting the informal sector through infrastructure development since it contributes to the well-being of the economy