10 research outputs found
Underperformance of students at institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe in the 21st century: possible explanations
No full textDecline in performance levels not only at institutions of higher learning but even at lower levels of education have been noticeable in Zimbabwe in the 21st Century. This is despite all these efforts made by the government, it has come to the attention of college and university authorities and even the parents that many students in these institutions of higher learning are failing to perform as per the expected standards. The quality of graduates produced together with the degree or diploma classes obtained by most students at the end indicates poor performance by these students in their various majors. It is within this backdrop that these researchers attempt to give possible explanation to the underperformance of students at institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe in the 21st century. Methodologically, the researchers made use of secondary sources such as published books and articles, interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires in the writing of this paper. The data collected from these questionnaires was complemented with information collected from interviews. Key informants included college and university students and university staff. Views and opinions were also solicited from the general public. The information, facts, opinions and views solicited from these different groups of people provided the researchers with valuable information needed in the writing of this paper
Surviving in a hostile environment: an analysis of Zimbabwe’s foreign relations in 21st century international relations
No full textZimbabwe, at the turn of the new millennium has received widespread condemnation particularly
following the abandonment of the Structural Adjustment programmes (ESAP), intervention in
Democratic Republic of Congo and with the implementation of the controversial land reform. The image
portrayed abroad has been tattered because of reports of violence, instability and abandonment of the
rule of law, which has created a serious challenge to modern developments on democracy and human
rights. On one hand Zimbabwe has seemingly lost many friends especially those from the West and/or
West controlled institutions. On the other hand, it has sought acquaintance with countries in the East
and other developing countries. From such a standpoint the paper seeks to examine the causes behind
this strain in relations between Zimbabwe and Western global actors. It is the aim of this paper to
analyse the underlying causes and trace the origin of the strained relations with the Western world
Factors Affecting Voting Behavior and Voting Patterns in Zimbabwe\u27s 2008 Harmonized Elections
No full textElections in Zimbabwe in 2008 reflected a changing behavior and pattern that has existed since her attainment of independence in 1980. History has it that the ruling ZANU PF has always had a sweet and easy victory over the opposition. The 2008 elections reflected a different picture. The 2008 elections were unique not only in as far as results are concerned but also in as far as the indirect and direct players\u27 contributions. The uniqueness was manifested in behavior of the voters and the parties themselves. There were many political contesters and many offices up for grabs at once. These were the first elections that failed to produce an outright winner for the office of president and led for the first time to a runoff since independence. A number of questions have arisen as to the changes in voting patterns. The paper therefore seeks to analyze the factors beneath the manifestation of the trend changes
Agrarian Reforms for Sustainable Food Security and Development: Lessons for Developing countries from the Fast Track Land Reform in Zimbabwe
No full textDeveloping countries across the world have been in one way or the other been experiencing a rather stagnating condition in terms of general agricultural development and specifically food security. Differing policies have been implemented so as to deal with these problems and subsequently led to food security. Zimbabwe is one such country which at the turn of the new millennium embarked on a massive land reform program. The justifications have been, among others, the need to increase participates in the agricultural sector and enable the majority who have been marginalized with no or little land for agricultural purpose to benefit through accessing productive land. The expectation from such a policy is that it is supposed to contribute towards food security and subsequent development of the agricultural sector. It is the purpose of the paper to examine the extent to which the reform has contributed towards food security and overall development of the agricultural sector. The findings provide a basis through which such a policy is/is not of importance in transforming the agricultural sector at the backdrop of increases participation of the once marginalized. The paper would seek to offer a number of recommendations if such a policy is ever to be followed in developing countries for the benefit of not only the marginalized but entire economic development of a country
Elections and Vote Rigging/Electoral Fraud in Zimbabwe: A Critical Analysis of the 2000-2008 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections
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Nexus between Land Redistribution and Poverty Reduction: A Qualitative Overview of the Fast Track Land Reform in Rural Zimbabwe 2000-2007
No full textImposition of colonial rule in Zimbabwe saw millions of hectares of productive land expropriated from the native inhabitants relegating them to perpetual poverty and deprivation. Out of this predicament, native Zimbabweans resorted to armed struggle to reclaim their land in two historical periods leading to independence in 1980. Consequently, land repossession was a primary grievance during the armed struggle and thus, land redistribution was high on the agenda at the attainment of independence but not much was done in the first two decades. In the first decade, obligatory clauses in the Lancaster House constitution effectively made popular land reform impossible. The neo-liberal economic project, Economic Structural Adjustment Program adopted by the government of Zimbabwe in the 1990s further suffocated even timid efforts at meaningful land reform. However, the government embarked on compulsory acquisition in the year 2000 following widespread farm invasions and protests. 2006 marks six years since Zimbabwe\u27s implementation of fast track land reform that saw thousands of formerly landless and crowded families living in perils of poverty resettled. This paper unearths the linkages between access to productive land and reducing susceptibility and vulnerability to poverty and its contribution to national food security in the first six years of implementation. The paper goes miles in providing tentative answers and insights to the relevance of land redistribution in poverty alleviation, putting the agrarian reform question in its rightful position in development thinking in modem agro-based economies that once formed a colonial settler state within the overall framework of sustainable development
