National Research Database of Zimbabwe
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Determinants of bank liquidity in Zimbabwean commercial banks (2010-2014).
No full textZimbabwe is facing interwoven economic challenges, to the extent that financial distress amongst banks has been rampant owing to perennial liquidity constraints. The research focus was on identifying the determinants of bank liquidity for commercial banks in Zimbabwe during dollarization. The broad categories of determinants of liquidity entail the bank-specific factors and macroeconomic factors. The research adopted an explanatory research design and 16 commercial banks were used as the research subjects. Secondary data was obtained from the audited financial statements of banks, ZIMSTAT, RBZ monthly economic review reports and the monetary policy. Data collected covered the period from 2010 to 2014 and was analyzed using panel data fixed effect regression models through an econometric package, STATA 11.The study revealed a positive relationship between liquidity and bank-specific factors of size of bank and capital adequacy. The research findings also revealed that bank liquidity tends to decrease with higher loan growth, increase in non-performing loans and higher lending rate. The challenges of non-performing loans remain crucial to bank liquidity as it speeds up the deterioration of the advances book thereby increasing illiquid assets. The research recommends that banks adopt enhanced credit risk management techniques to minimize the effect of lending activity on liquidity. To promote prudent lending amongst Zimbabwean banks, the Central Bank is encouraged to enhance bank supervision and speed up the formation of a Credit Reference system. Finally, further research can take into consideration qualitative factors such as management efficiency changes in regulation or political incidences, salary and wages levels as probable determinants of liquidity in addition to the financial ratios
An exploration of factors affecting students’ studies in one selected university in Zimbabwe
No full textSeveral issues promote or hinder students’ progress in pursuit of their studies. The present study sought to establish enabling and constraining factors to students’ academic progress in one selected state university in Zimbabwe. The study adopted a descriptive survey approach which utilized both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Informed by Archer ’s theory on structure, culture and agency, the study collected data from
students in five selected faculties in the one selected university. A convenient sample of one hundred and ten students participated in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and
qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software package version 21. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis method and presented through verbatim quotations of the respondents. The study found that academic overload, lack of time management, lack of requisite materials, computer illiteracy and financial problems negatively affected students’ studies while factors such as student accommodation, relationships and command of the language of instruction did not have much effect. The researchers conclude that there were structural, cultural and agential factors that negatively affected students’ studies. Recommendations are made in view of the major findings
Visual participatory as an analytic tool in managing violence among students in an urban secondary school in Zimbabwe
No full textPublication by Ephias Gudyanga and Nomsa Matamba Midlands State University, Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Foundations, Management and Curriculum Studies,The research was set to determine management practices of students’ violent behaviour in an urban secondary school in Zimbabwe. The visual participatory methodology was used. Drawings and focus group discussions were the focal methods employed to generate data from 15 conveniently sampled participants over a period of two weeks. Involvement of parents, police, heads of schools and the perpetrators of violence were noted as violence reduction management practices. The school must adopt transparent and holistic approach where stakeholders including communities must engage with one another in an endeavour to eliminate violence. It was concluded that violence in schools can be eliminated
Social construction of gender, language and the reduction of women’s space in the Ndebele culture
No full textThis article is an analysis of social construction of gender in a Ndebele culture and the reduction of women’s space in that culture. It is also an assessment of the portrayal of Ndebele women in Ndebele language texts. Socially constructed women’s constricted space and dependency are also discussed. Theories of gender socialisation explain socially constructed differences between men and women. The interactionist theory and development of self-concept explain women’s perceptions of themselves and how they are perceived by their communities. Reproduction theories serve to explain the perpetuation and maintenance of existing perceptions. The ABC of gender analysis Framework in particular, the narratological model was applied to analyses illustrations, language and interaction of males and females in a Ndebele culture. The content analysis of Ndebele novels was done to elicit qualitative data on portrayal and perceptions of women. Findings revealed that socialisation in general results in gendered skills. Gender socialisation in a Ndebele culture is not only for exclusion, but also for demeaning, controlling, manipulating and marginalising women. Males are prepared for the public and women for the private sphere. Marriage is valued as a form of control of women in both the public and private spheres. The paper recommends (Gender and Development) GAD approach to development, deconstruction of stereotypical language and gender attitudes. Also crucial is the redefining and defying of existing norms. Resocialisation which is designed to change existing attitudes and beliefs is also necessary to instil public norms, values and behaviors expected in different modern public institutions. Gender resocialization, gender education, conscientisation and awareness campaigns are important to deconstruct gender attitudes and stereotypes
An investigation into the effectiveness of the Basic Education assistance Module (BEAM)in reducing dropout rate in Mberengwa District Primary Schools.
No full textA study to investigate the effectiveness of BEAM in reducing dropout rate was carried out in Mberengwa North Cluster. The sample size had five school heads ,ten school teachers, five School Development Committee Chairperson, ten Community Selection Committee (CSC) members and thirty OVCs at school, which were selected at five different schools. Thirty parents and thirty orphans and vulnerable children from the communities surrounding the school were also chosen for the study. Questionnaires were administered to the teachers and the school heads. Interviews were conducted on the rest of the research participants. The study found out that there is still a problem of drop out prevailing in Mberengwa district and the BEAM programme is failing to address the issue. The study established that BEAM is a school fees assistance programme only. It does not provide other necessities for the children to learn like food, transport and stationary. The selection criteria are also subjective in some instance because there are some pupils who are benefiting from the BEAM programme who are neither poor nor vulnerable. The study recommends that the BEAM programme should be an inclusive approach that should not only pay for school fees but also cater for the students needs especially the safety needs like food, good shelter, and clothing
An assessment of the effectiveness of electronic media into teaching and learning in secondary schools of Gokwe South District in Midlands Province.
No full textThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of electronic media in teaching and learning. The study was carried out in Gokwe South District in Midlands Province. The population of this study consisted of two secondary schools in Gokwe South District. These two secondary school were chosen through purposive sampling technique. The sample comprises of 35 teachers from two schools. The researcher also uses purposive sampling to interview the
school heads, school depute heads and the IT Administrators. The researcher uses qualitative research design which enables the researcher to use questionnaires, interviews and observation in gathering data. Qualitative research also enables the researcher to identify the relationship between electronic media and students’ performance. The study helps the researcher to explore the types of electronic media devices available in the schools as well as the usage rate of
electronic media tools by the teachers. The study establishes that the level of electronic media usage in teaching and learning was still very low in many schools. The study also helps the researcher to identify the challenges faced by schools to employ electronic media technology at full capacity and the major challenges were power supply, shortage of electronic media devices,
lack of funds to buy electronic media devices and lack of technical support. Other challenges found in this research were lack of time, poor infrastructure and lack of technical support. In light of this findings the researcher therefore recommend the use of electricity substitutes such as generators and solar power, in service training on how to use electronic media devices and to seek assistance from the government and nongovernmental organizations
Social media, a handtool for News gathering?: a case study of the Newsday and Southern Eye
No full textThe main aim of the research is to examine the dynamics of using social media as a source for news in mainstream media. The research will also seek to highlight the potential threat to journalists’ ethics such as objectivity, bias and fairness as a result of sourcing out information from various social media platforms such as Facebook pages, Twitter, Instagram and Whatsapp. The use of social media as a source for news by mainstream media newspapers especially those operating from the private media is as a result of the polarised nature that the media operates in, and at times forced these journalists to source out information from social media. The use of social media platforms has seen journalists accessing information at ease, and these various platforms have been viewed as a democratic tool that has changed story narratives. Newsday and Southern Eye have enjoyed the use of social media, although at a limited rate as they can easily access information from public bodies
Impact of occupational stress on organizational performance: case of Mimosa mining company, Zimbabwe
No full textMost mining companies’ performance continues to plummet. The question is that; is it the economy, management and production practises, the business environment or occupational stress which is an obscure problem affecting organizational performance? Could organizational poor performance be traced down to occupational stress? The study sought to assess impact of occupational stress on organisational performance. The study aimed at identifying sources of occupational stress, determining the impact of occupational stress on organizational performance and assess the effectiveness of strategies used to reduce impact of occupational stress on organizational performance at Mimosa Mining Company. The data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. Stratified random sampling was used to select the respondents. An inverse relationship was found between occupational stress and organizational performance. Employees were found to experience occupational stress emanating from the roles they carried out. Demographic variables such as age, job position, experience and income significantly influenced the relationship between occupational stress and organizational performance. The study concluded that occupational stress has negative impact to the organizational performance as it resulted in lost time injuries, absenteeism, accidents, low morale and poor work relations. The study recommends proactive interventions by implementing management strategies that aims on elimination of occupational stress so that the organization may fully achieve optimum organizational excellence
The domestic water supply puzzle in Zimbabwean cities: challenges and opportunities for Mtapa residential suburb, Gweru, Zimbabwe
No full textZimbabwe’s economic meltdown decade of 2000-2009 virtually paralyzed all socio-economic sectors including services delivery in urban areas. Economic sanctions imposed by the West, coupled with the climate change threat have only exacerbated the urban services delivery nightmare, especially the water delivery system. Notwithstanding, not all hope is lost. This study sought to assess the urban domestic water supply challenges and opportunities in Gweru’s Mtapa (or Mutapa) suburb using questionnaires, interviews and direct observations. Questionnaires were self-administered to 56 systematically selected residents of Mtapa Sections 5 and 6, while interviews were conducted with 3 purposively sampled key respondents who included Gweru Residents Association Organizing Secretary, Councillor for ward 6 which covers Mtapa suburb, and Chief Water Technician responsible for water supply. Results confirm that Mtapa suburb faces serious water supply challenges. Over 50% of the respondents confirmed that the unreliable water supply situation has affected their use of the toilet and they now live in fear of diarrhoeal diseases due to this unsanitary situation. Over 80% of the respondents have a negative perception in terms of water service delivery. Women have been largely affected by this situation in that they cannot fetch enough water for all domestic purposes mainly due to the distance to the alternative water sources (boreholes). There are, however, a number of feasible opportunities which can be pursued to improve this poor water supply situation in Mtapa and the city of Gweru in general. The study recommends that Gweru City Council avoids politicizing agreements with international organizations to help reduce the water problems because this will block these organizations from financially and technically helping in service delivery. The study also recommends that City Council resume pumping of water into reservoir tanks so that in cases of emergency or breakdown of pumps, water will be available for domestic use by residents. This can be achieved since there is now the involvement of international organizations for financial assistance
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of ministers of religion of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe aged 40 to 65years on prostate cancer
No full textProstate cancer has become the number one cancer in men with increasing incidence and morbidity in men of black African ancestry (Akinremi et al, 2011). The purpose of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of ministers of religion of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe aged 40 to 65years on prostate cancer. The Health Belief Model was used to guide the study. Descriptive study design was used with a sample of 100 ministers of religion drawn using the convenient sampling method. Self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in, bar graphs, pie charts and tables. There was generally poor knowledge and several misconceptions regarding prostate cancer and screening in the study population. The study findings showed that a source of information about prostate cancer was the mass media while with only thirty two (32%) got it from health workers. Thirty four (34%) knew about prostate specific antigen test and only nineteen (19%) knew about self-examination of the prostate cancer. Although 64% thought they were not susceptible to prostate cancer, only nine (9%) had undergone testing. Health educators should develop education and awareness programmes targeting churches using billboards or posters for this population. Workshops may also be conducted for ministers of religion for empowerment training especially to those at risk of prostate cancer so that they get screened early before pathogenesis