Harare Central Business District Research Articles

The Practice and Modalities of African Traditional Medicine in Tuberculosis Treatment - A Traditional Medical Practitioners’ Perspective

Aims: This study sought to explore the role of the traditional medical practitioner (TMP) and document the modalities of tuberculosis (TB) treatment in traditional medicine (TM) in Harare, Zimbabwe. Study design: An ethnographic research survey of TMPs in Harare urban. Place and Duration of Study: Harare’s southern suburbs of Warren Park, Mufakose, Budiriro, Belvedere, Mbare (Mupedzanhamo) and Harare central business district, between April and June 2021. Methodology: Fourteen (14) experienced TB practitioners, registered with the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) were recruited for the study. These included exclusive herbalists (36%), spiritualists (14%) and those who used a combination of spiritualism and herbalism (50%) in their practice. Data was collected through semi-structured in-person interviews. The practices and treatment modalities in the traditional treatment of TB were documented; and any linkages with the conventional medical system were identified. Results: Forty-six (46) plant species from 28 families were prescribed in various polyherbal combinations for a maximum of 6 months in difficult cases. TMPs were found to be relevant and knowledgeable in the treatment of TB. In addition to offering alternative or complementary treatment options to patients, TMPs were also agents of health education promotion, and collaborated to some extent with allopathic healthcare providers across the service delivery system from diagnosis to treatment of patients. Conclusion: If formalized, TMPs have the potential to make considerable contributions to TB treatment strategies and help improve treatment outcome in TB patients.

Remembering Mbuya Nehanda: civil religion in ‘second republic’ Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT On Africa Day in 2021, Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, unveiled the Mbuya Nehanda statue in Harare Central Business District. In his unveiling speech, Mnangagwa referred to Mbuya Nehanda as a reflection and embodiment of the heroic people of Zimbabwe. Predicated upon the Nehanda figure and Mnangagwa’s ideology, this study investigates civil religion in the second republic of Zimbabwe. In considering the homogenizing and unifying identity derived from cultural symbols, the study further examines the complexities associated with such a task in Zimbabwe as a multireligious, multiethnic, and multidimensionally crisis ridden context.

Access to Covid-19 Information and Awareness for People with Visual Impairment in Zimbabwe: The Missing Link: The Case of Harare Central Business District (CBD).

The thrust of this study was to determine whether information on Covid 19 was being effectively disserminated to people with visual impairment in ways that made it accessible. Covid 19 has destroyed many lives in the country and indeed other countries. While people with sight have access to information through ordinary print, Television, radio,pictures audios, vedios, pamphlets and other such means,the same may not be said of people with visual impairment. People with visual impairment access information through enlarged print, Braille, radio and other forms. It was therefore imperative to determine whether people with visual impairment really benefitted from the current formats of information dissermination on the ground. The study used the qualitative paradigm in gathering data. The population comprised of fifty people with visual impairment. The sample included thirty females and twenty males. The study found out that people with visual impairment were not effectively accessing information on Covid 19 like sighted people were doing. They were being short changed in a number of ways. The formats being used were not effectively reaching out to people with visual impairment. It was mainly ordinary print that was used and yet many of the people with visual impairment required the use of Braille, enlarged print and others. It was also established that while some of the people may have benefitted from listening to audios and some vedios, the way this information was packaged left a lot to be desired. In most cases people with visual impairment had to seek assistance from other people in order to clearly understand the essence of some of the messages meant to benefit them. Some of the information was conveyed in the form of diagrams, and yet not all people with visual impairment can read diagrams and interpret them correctly. Even those with low vision experienced challenges in understanding diagrams. The study recommended that there was urgent need to present information on Covid 19 in accesible formats that were user friendly to all. Policies also needed to be put in place to help in ensuring that this group of people was not shortchanged in this respect. There was also need for the involvement of people with visual impairment in decision making on information dissemination on Covid 19.

Exiting Commercial Sex Work: a Case of Adolescent Street Girls of the Harare Central Business District in Zimbabwe

AbstractThe paper interrogates narratives of adolescent street girls of the Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe, exiting commercial sex work. A qualitative research methodology punctuated by street ethnography was adopted to gather data for the paper. A feminist social work approach and empowerment theory were used to have a deeper understanding of the lives of these children. Research findings suggest that there were very few cases where adolescent street girls of Harare Central Business District were successfully exiting transactional sex. There were varied and multiple reasons why they could not successfully exit commercial sex work. Some of them included addiction on commercial sex work, limited survival options outside commercial sex work, peer pressure, street subculture, and substance abuse. The paper concludes by advocating and lobbying key stakeholders such as the Government of Zimbabwe to improve the lives of children in street situations through provision of social protection mechanisms.

Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the Growth of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Zimbabwe

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of Information and Communication Technology on the growth of Microfinance Institutions in Zimbabwe. The study used a sample of thirty (30) MFIs registered with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, with operations in Harare Central Business District. A sequential explanatory research design was adopted with the view of adopting a mixed research approach. Purposive sampling technique was adopted. Data was gathered through interviews which were administered to branch managers of MFIs and questionnaires which were administered to MFI employees. The study revealed that most of the MFIs have partially adopted ICT. The study found out that customers’ lack of knowledge in the use of ICT, higher costs of setting up ICT, customers’ lack of ICT resources, poor network connectivity and ICT related complaints raised by MFI clients are the challenges faced by MFIs in adopting and using technology. The study revealed that adoption and usage of ICT has positively affected the operational growth of MFIs through improving revenue base, customers’ touch points, market share, and outreach to previously inaccessible customers, debt recovery and customers’ contact points. The study revealed that adoption and usage of ICT has positively affected the business efficiencies of MFIs through improvement in speed of execution of transactions, loan processing, communication with clients and business acumen of MFI employees. The study recommends that MFIs should advocate the institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe to introduce banking and finance programmes linked with technology. The study also recommended that there should be collaboration between MFIs, technology companies and higher learning institutions to come up with technology driven products that are accessible and affordable to MFI clients.

“Exploring unchartered territories”: fieldwork experiences from researching street traders

PurposeDoing qualitative research with vulnerable urban populations such as street traders present significant methodological challenges, which many researchers may not be prepared to handle. This paper aims to provide a reflective account of the authors' fieldwork experiences while conducting a study with street traders in Harare, Zimbabwe.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws data from a qualitative case study conducted with street traders in Harare's Central Business District (CBD). In this study, mixed qualitative methods were used including focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews and photovoice.FindingsThe study’s findings suggest that researching street traders is a complex process that requires flexibility, adaptability and creativity of researchers across the following aspects: gaining access in unfamiliar research contexts, building rapport and trust with participants, managing ethical dilemmas and addressing power imbalances between researchers and participants.Originality/valueWhile there is a growing body of empirical research on street trading in the global south, there are limited studies that discusses the practical fieldwork experiences associated with conducting primary research with such vulnerable and dynamic urban populations. The authors highlight strategies and practical steps that can be taken to address these challenges. This paper emphasizes the need for flexibility and adaptability in researching street traders, as it is akin to exploring uncharted territories where conventional methodological templates may not be effective.

Challenges in Implementing Moral Legitimacy in Supply Chain Performance of Crop Production SMEs in Zimbabwe

Globally there is rising pressure in modern SMEs businesses to make sure or ascertain improved moral standards in the supply chains operations on the grounds of sustainability, competitiveness, and growth in the face of the constantly changing global supply chains. In SMEs in crop production in Zimbabwe, are exposed to tremendous challenges in the implementation of moral legitimacy in the day-to-day working in their operations, in the most effective, efficient, and most economic possible manner to improve performance. The goal of the article is to identify, describe and evaluate challenges faced in crop production by SMEs in Zimbabwe settings and also in the context of strengthening and improving their supply chain performance. SPSS v 20 was employed to analyse quantitative data. Surveys were conducted to gather data using questionnaires using five-point Likert scale. Sample size of 105 SMEs in crop production SMEs from Harare Central Business District was utilized in the study to measure and analyze factors interdicting moral legitimacy implementation in crop production SMEs chain to improve responsiveness, efficiency, and effectiveness in their value chains. Descriptive data were utilized to explicate how respondents were associated with moral legitimacy issues in supply chain performance. SMEs crop production, just like most business enterprises could not afford to disregard business moral practices. Many crop production SMEs business failures are as the result of a lack of moral legitimacy practices, especially those associated with employees, internal processes, environmental impact, product footprint, and top management. The article aims to contribute to the already existing body of literature on the moral practices of SMEs in developing countries. As such, SME owners and managers will find it useful to utilize the findings of this article to design policy frameworks and guidelines to improve organization reputations, productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability.

Socio-economic and security ramifications of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe

The outbreak of COVID-19 came with serious socio-economic and national security implications across the globe. While more deaths were recorded in developed countries than in developing countries, socio-economic impacts were, however, more pronounced in developing countries than in developed countries. In this study, we examined the socio-economic and national security implications of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. The study adopted a mixed-methods design, with 202 participants recruited from Harare Central Business District through quota and purposive sampling techniques. Findings revealed that poverty, hunger and starvation, and rising unemployment were the major socio- economic impacts of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. In terms of security, domestic violence was considered the most prevalent crime during COVID-19, followed by corruption. The study concludes that restrictive measures during public health emergencies come with a host of negative socio-economic impacts, which require sound mitigatory measures from governments. The study recommends a number of social measures to mitigate this outcome, namely providing social grants to vulnerable citizens, implementing partial rather than total lockdowns, and limiting the powers of law enforcement agents during public health emergencies.

Early Childhood Experiences in Zimbabwe: A Study on Street Children in the Harare Centralbusiness District

This study examined the reasons why children prefer to live and work in the inner cycles of urban cities in Zimbabwe. The study was conducted in the inner cycles of the Harare Central Business District in Harare Metropolitan Province. The specific objectives were; to establish the levels of parent-child relationship experiences in early childhood of street children; to explore the key dynamics which tend to generate the problems of children living and working on the streets and to determine interventions and sustainable strategies that could be used to curb the occurrence of children living and working on the street. Qualitative data was obtained through indepth interviews, FGDs and direct observations from thirty street children (fifteen boys and fifteen girls) within the inner cycles of the Harare Central Business District. Five key informants presumed to have knowledge on the phenomena and street vendors’ familiarity with the lifestyles of the street children within the inner cycles of the Harare Central Business District were interviewed. The study established that children who appeared deprived of attachment-bond in early childhood tended to have disturbing problems in later years and yet very little in this context has been done to address the dilemma. The study concluded that there is need for comprehensive interventions and strategies that could be used to address the problem. The study recommends that the Government and agencies should intervene by strengthening policy formulations and programmes. This could be in the form of participative model that educates families and parents, as well as children, to re-enforce parentchild attachment bond in early childhood. The aim is to curb the appalling problem of children living and working on the streets.

Assessing the Effects of Architectural Design on Commercial Real Estate Value Case of Harare Central Business District (CBD)

Assessing the Effects of Architectural Design on Commercial Real Estate Value Case of Harare Central Business District (CBD)

INFLUENCE OF CORPORATE SUCCESSION PLANNING AND GENERATIONAL CHANGEOVER IN FAMILY-OWNED ORGANISATIONS CASE OF FAMILY-OWNED HARDWARE TRADES IN HARARE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (ZIMBABWE)

The inquiry papyraceous sought after to determine the agent that persuasion succession planning and generational change in small family-owned ironmongery businesses in Harare Central Business District in the Zimbabwean capital metropolitan. Harare is the biggest city in Zimbabwe and has the highest multitude of recorded lineage owned businesses. By means of the Mixed Method Research (MMR) which was QUAN-qual, denotating that this meditation was primarily quantitative with a slender qualitative constituent. The researches patience was pragmatism and the investigation intend was figurative. A sample of 110 respondents was enact through layered random trypiece to take solicitude of the three categories of family-owned businesses namely: small, medium and large family businesses. One hundred and ten self-conduct questionnaire were issuance for fulfillment and 100 were revert practicable, giving a response rate of 90.9%. The questionnaire had mostly shu ppurpose items and a few obvious close article in protection with the QUAN-qual orientation. Data was analysed worn SPSS ver. 23. A multivariate regression analysis was impelled out and the findings were that: the age of the family business proprietor, straightforward of education, communication among family members, gender of business lord, involvement of family members in family employment progeny and size of the class office influence succession sketch and generational change in lineage-owned ironmongery businesses in Harare CBD. R-squared was calculate to determine the impact of these factors on lineage planning and generational turn. The research findings reveal that 65% of the variability in succession planning and generational turn possibly will be expound by the predictor variables enrolled immediately above. The inquiry ponder also found out that succession planning and generational change had the subsequent exchange: reluctancy of business owners/managers to relinquish control of the business; contestation of uncertainty and unknowns and contention within families. This investigation paper recommends that top management of family-owned businesses ought to disentangle comprehensive descent planning and generational strategies for continuity focussing on all the forecaster variables review in the contemplation. It was also recommended that further researches be done on other factors that affect race sketch and generational change in kindred-owned other than hardware businesses in Harare Central Business District. Since the question study was conducted in Harare Central Business District only, this require it toilsome to generalise the findings to the faithful rustic, hence, it is commend that future research should concentrate on a liberal scope of family-owned businesses in dissimilar industries preference food manufacturing , construction ,electronic computer software , hotel and agriculture sectors.

Microbial Assessment of Dried Fish Sold in Streets and Supermarkets in Harare Central Business District: Zimbabwe

The study focused on the microbiological quality of dried fish sold in the streets and supermarkets in Harare Central Business District. The analysis was based on determining the microbiological load of dried fish samples. Samples were systematically collected from three different streets and three different supermarkets each week. The study period was from January 2020 to April 2020.The samples were analyzed for Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus spp and Penicillium spp. The methods used were pour plate, streaking and microscopy. Results obtained from this study showed that street sold fish microbial levels were within unacceptable levels food safety standards. Supermarket sold dried fish microbial levels were also within the unacceptable levels. In comparing the levels of indicator microorganisms between streets and supermarkets, the results showed that the contamination of level was similar for all the microorganisms except Salmonella. Purchasing dried fish in supermarkets does not guarantee food safety. It was concluded that street and supermarket sold dried fish pose high food safety concerns and can be a potential source of foodborne illnesses.

Sex for Drugs: A Case of Street Children of the Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe (SDSTHZ)

ABSTRACT Very few academic studies have been conducted that interrogate narratives around sex for drugs among the street children of the Harare Central Business District in the face of socio-economic challenges. Some of the challenges have been partly induced by the austerity era. The paper adopted the Ubuntu or unhu, child rights and child agency theories to under the realities of these children. Research findings ostensibly suggest that the street children of the Harare Central Business District espoused to sex for drugs in a context faced by myriad of socio-economic challenges. The sex for drugs demonstrate agency of the street children. The behaviours are also seen as thin agency given the limitedness of survival options of these children. Conversely, the sex for drugs among street children highlight the level of child rights violations prevalent on the streets of the Harare Central Business District. A qualitative research methodology punctuated by street ethnography approach was utilised to generate data for this paper. The paper concludes by lobbying and advocating for a child rights based approach in implementing programmes or projects for street children of Harare Central Business District.

Adolescent Street Boys’ Car Washing and Parking of Vehicles in the Harare Central Business District as Urban Resilience under Austerity Era (ASBCWPVHCBDURAE)

Adolescent Street Boys’ Car Washing and Parking of Vehicles in the Harare Central Business District as Urban Resilience under Austerity Era (ASBCWPVHCBDURAE)

Approaches for Reducing Urban Traffic Congestion in the City of Harare

Traffic congestion is a major challenge in the city of Harare, especially in the central business district (CBD) resulting in massive delays, a decrease in productivity and an increase in environmental pollution. Therefore, the study sought to assess the management of traffic congestion in Harare urban. The study employed an exploratory design to sample 315 respondents through the administration of questionnaires. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven officials of management institutions in Harare. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS v 21 whereas the qualitative data was manually analysed. The study revealed that massive influx of motor vehicles in the city, bad attitude of drivers (especially commuter omnibus and tax drivers), poor or no urban transport policy framework, vendors all over the traffic ways; massive pedestrians population in the CBD and Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) were the main causes of traffic congestion. The effects of traffic congestion are decreasing sales, higher transport costs, pollution, decreased productivity and stress to motorists as a result of longer travelling time. The study recommends implementation of mass transit system in transporting public within the CBD, public education, strict enforcement of road traffic regulations, construction of proper vendor selling points in the CBD, provision of adequate parking spaces to help manage traffic congestion in Harare CBD as well as implementation of smart urban transportation and mobility technologies. Keywords: Congestion, central business district (CBD), Harare, mass transit, Zimbabwe DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-4-01 Publication date: February 29 th 2020

Reasons for the Street Girl’s Entry into Commercial Sex Work: A Case Study of the Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe (RSGECSWH)

Reasons for the Street Girl’s Entry into Commercial Sex Work: A Case Study of the Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe (RSGECSWH)

Sexual and Sexual and reproductive health issues of youths on the streets in Zimbabwe: the case of Harare Central Business Districtreproductive health issues of youths on the streets in Zimbabwe: the case of Harare Central Business District

Background: Youths living on the streets of Harare engage in risky sexual behaviours, which exposes them to sexually transmitted diseases, yet they do not have adequate access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services. The study investigated sexual and reproductive health issues among youths on the streets of Harare’s Central Business District. Data and methods: The study interviewed 202 youths and had components of of in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Findings: Almost all youths had engaged in sex and had debuted at very young ages. Educational attainment was associated with current sexual activity; so was contraceptive use with drug use and alcohol consumption. Alcohol exposed youths to prenancy. Unsafe abortions were common among female youths - half had suffered an STI. Youths abused drugs and alcohol. Street youths had poor access to SRH services. Conclusion: Government should extend sexual education to street youths, keep them in school and make SRH services easily accessible to them.

Masturbation and Substance Abuse among Street Children of Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe

Masturbation and Substance Abuse among Street Children of Harare Central Business District, Zimbabwe

Foot patrols and crime prevention in Harare Central Business District: police officers’ perspectives

Despite the advent of modern crime control methods, chiefly brought about by technological advancement, foot patrol has remained as one of the crucial crime prevention methods in both the developed and developing world. This study was aimed at describing the implementation of foot beat patrols in Harare Central Business District (CBD), Zimbabwe. The study also attempted to gauge perceptions from police officers on the effectiveness of foot beat patrols as a crime control strategy. The study revealed that hot spot patrols and high visibility are the most widely used patrol initiatives in Harare CBD. Foot patrols were widely viewed to be effective in reducing specific crimes/problems such as assault, loitering, touts, plain robbery and pick pocketing. It was also felt that reduction in specific crimes within the central business district also lowers the aggregate crime levels for the whole city. Reduction in fear of crime and provision of a reassuring presence were also considered to be the major benefits of foot patrols by community representatives.

The perceptions and attitudes of adolescent street girls on the use of traditional medicine and commercial sex work in Harare Central Business District

The paper argues that there is a close relationship between use of traditional medicine and commercial sex work among adolescent street girls in Harare Central Business District. As a result of using the traditional medicine one could argue that this demonstrates agency of these young adults. The agency is demonstrated when these adolescent girls use the medicine to facilitate commercial sex work. On the other hand one could argue that, use of traditional medicine in commercial sex work illustrates huge rights violations prevalent on the streets of Harare Central Business District. The behaviours associated with commercial sex work and use of traditional medicine could be viewed as contravening some provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC) (1989), African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children (ACRWC) (1999). Included are violations of some of the national child rights laws and policies such as the Children’s Act (5.06), Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (9.23) and the National Action Plan for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (NAP for OVCs) (2011-2015). This study is part of the researcher’s doctoral study which used street ethnography and qualitative research methodology.