Government Of Zimbabwe Research Articles

Zimbabwe’s Command Agriculture: Problems of Planning Under Neoliberalism

This article examines the impacts of Zimbabwe’s Command Agriculture (CA) program, a state-driven cereal production model implemented since 2016. In the context of the neglect of cereal crops by African states generally under the accumulation strategies of international and domestic capital, and in the face of persisting neoliberal strategies led by international agencies such as the World Bank, the Zimbabwe experience continues to provide insights into the problems and prospects of planning under neoliberalism. In the case of CA, the Government of Zimbabwe intervened to bolster maize production, which had remained underfunded. The study shows a distinct correlation between national food self-sufficiency and, to some extent, economic stability and growth under state intervention and planning. This suggests that the CA program, as well as other planning initiatives, can stimulate economic growth and development if well managed. It illuminates how farmers were recruited and mobilized under CA and attempts to identify the weaknesses and challenges of the program. We posit that state planning in cereal production poses a threat to neoliberalism and the hierarchical international food system, and is an important step toward attaining national sovereignty.

Factors Hampering the Realization of Equity and Quality Education in Zimbabwe’s Rural Schools: Experiences of Chipinge Central Circuit, Manicaland

Globally, many countries are grappling with educational inequities. Despite the Government of Zimbabwe’s pursuit of universal education since 1980, inequities and poor quality education challenges persist unabated in rural schools. The continuing challenges prompted this study to investigate the factors hampering the realization of equity and quality education in rural communities. The article provides a case-specific account anchored on the lived experiences of rural teachers and school heads in Chipinge central circuit. Drawing on key informant interviews coupled with documentary review, the article revealed a multiplicity of factors, namely, funding, family and community support barriers, child labour and dropouts, child hunger and distance challenges, shortage of teaching resources, shortage of teachers, inadequate physical structures, electricity, among others, that undermine the realization of equity and quality education in rural schools. The article recommends improved government funding and support, digital skills capacity development for rural school teachers and retention strategies for rural teachers. Through such capacity-building interventions, rural schools will have the needed infrastructure, modern technologies and adequately qualified teachers to provide quality education to rural learners.

Psycho-Social Problems Experienced by Children Living Within an Orphanage in Harare and the Forms of Psycho-Social Support Available

The purpose of the study was to investigate psycho-social problems faced by children living at an orphanage in Harare and the forms of psycho-social support given to them. The researcher used a mixed research methodology as her research instruments contained both questionnaires and interviews. A qualitative research methodology was used in carrying out the study as this enabled the researchers to explore on the topic hence giving vivid information as well as an in-depth understanding of the issues at hand. The researcher used a phenomenological research design. The target population comprised twenty-seven people, who included twenty-two children and five caregivers. Systematic sampling was the sampling technique used. Ethics in research were also considered, which included confidentiality, privacy, anonymity and informed consent. Data was presented using tables, smart art and also descriptions. Major findings were that all the children at the orphanage faced psychosocial problems and they used a variety of ways to cope with the situation. The orphanage however tries to offer psycho-social support (PSS) though they pleaded for the government to help them implement and improve their PSS services. The overall recommendation was that the Zimbabwean government should ensure that children living in orphanages’ psycho-social problems must be addressed and dealt with.

Exploring the drivers and the utility of road tolling in Zimbabwe

The issue of road tolling is a topical subject, especially for developing countries who are being affected by paltry budgetary allocations towards highway infrastructure investment. The Zimbabwean Government took almost a decade before implementing road tolling. It was thus needful to come up with innovative, long-lasting solutions to address the financial constraints towards highway infrastructure investment hence the introduction of road tolling systems in Zimbabwe. To this effect, the study unpacks the drivers and the utility of road tolling in Zimbabwe. Through the usage of a case study research design which triangulates both the qualitative and quantitative methods, the study collected data using a survey questionnaire, document analysis and in-depth interviews with key informants. Data was analysed using the SPSS, content analysis and thematic analysis techniques. The results revealed that the dwindling budgetary allocations towards highway infrastructure investment, hyperinflation, and backlog in the maintenance and construction of trunk roads were the key factors that led the Zimbabwean Government to introduce road tolling. Additionally, the study highlighted that road tolling was introduced primarily to generate revenue for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of highway infrastructure in Zimbabwe. Recommendations were made to enhance the adoption and operationalisation of road tolling systems.

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.

LGBTI+ persons’ concealed displacement in Zimbabwe

abstract In many parts of the world individuals are subjected to serious human rights abuses because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, and sex characteristics, particularly when these do not conform to dominant social and cultural norms. Severe persecution and discrimination from both state and non-state actors force LGBTI+ persons to leave their places of habitual residence in search of a safe environment in which they can fully exercise their gender and sexual rights, and Zimbabwe is no exception. This article is drawn from the findings of qualitative research conducted on the relationship of LGBTI+ persons with their communities in Zimbabwe. The study elicited data from participants who identified as LGBTI+ (the Shona term ngochani, which means homosexual, is disparagingly used to refer to all members of this group). The major findings of the study are that the Zimbabwean government’s position has created a climate of fear, vulnerability, and victimisation among LGBTI+ persons, which has led to their displacement and migration. The study found that although in some cases the displacement and migration were caused by the violence from the state actors such as the police, other drivers include being rejected by families or fear of the communities’ reaction and treatment, which this study would call ‘concealed displacement’. The study thus argues that not all displacements and migrations of LGBTI+ persons are caused by visible public violence; however, in some cases it is concealed and as a response to desperation or mental and psychological exhaustion, even in the ‘quietest’ environment. Hence this article focuses on concealed displacement, diverting from the popular researched narrative of displacements as a result of overt public war and violence, but with the more or less common goal of finding space for safety, peace, acceptance, and inclusion.

Pandemic after pandemic: Adopting the multidimensional family therapy approach for youth drug abuse in Zimbabwe

Youth drug abuse in Zimbabwe has become a topical issue such that hardly a day passes without the mainstream media, social media, and other communication platforms mentioning drug abuse amongst youth and school children. The term new pandemic has been used to describe the drug abuse among Zimbabwe youth after the covid-19 pandemic. Several measures have been put in place by the Government of Zimbabwe to combat the ‘new pandemic’. The measures among them were criminalization of drug victims and suppliers of drugs, however, with limited success. The main objective of the study was to unpack the multidimensional factors that influence youth to indulge in drug abuse in Zimbabwe. The study adopted a qualitative desk research approach to unveil the topical problem. The study reveals the multidimensional influences of youth drug abuse and the multidimensional solutions to the problem. The study was underpinned by two theories: the bioecological and family systems theories. Research findings were that problems of youth drug abuse were a result of drugs being regarded as a business venture, rising urbanization without the corresponding industrialization, socio-economic challenges, social fabric breakdown, youth collective idleness, and unattended/unsupervised children. The study recommends that the nation should embark on a massive exercise to train adolescents, parents, families, communities, and the whole nation to deal with drug abuse among youths. Keywords: Communities; drug abuse; multidimensional family therapy; youth; Zimbabwe

Implementing e-procurement at the Zimbabwe’s National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm): Challenges and Prospects

This study explores the challenges and benefits of adopting electronic procurement (e-procurement) technologies to facilitate anti-corruption mechanisms, accountability and transparency in the procurement of pharmaceuticals at the National Pharmaceutical (NatPharm) Company in Zimbabwe. Pharmaceutical corruption is a serious threat to the attainment of Universal Health Coverage. It is imperative for the Government of Zimbabwe to adopt Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to detect and prevent corruption and fraud, thereby, addressing leakages, mismanagement and theft of medicines, thereby, improving population health outcomes. The study used a qualitative exploratory case study approach and data was gathered through documentary review. The study findings reveal that, pharmaceutical procurement is highly vulnerable to corruption at NatPharm. Bid rigging, procurement-related corruption, bribery and nepotism characterise pharmaceutical procurement at NatPharm. The study recommends the adoption of a transparent e-procurement system with open contracting and integrity pacts to reduce corruption, increase transparency and accountability at NatPharm.

Factors Influencing the Failure to Manage Official Email Records by the Central Government of Zimbabwe

Email has emerged as one of the most important and frequently used business records in almost all types of business organisations. This has been due to the advantages inherent in email such as low cost, speed of transmission and ease of use as well as opportunities brought about by the adoption of the electronic government programme. Nevertheless, many organisations face challenges when it comes to managing email as an official record where email messages are captured into the record-keeping system of the organisation, classified, appraised and preserved for future use and reference, and appropriately destroyed when no longer needed. This study seeks to promote the economic, efficient and effective management of email as official records in Zimbabwe’s central government. The case of Zimbabwe’s central government was used and 12 out of 22 head offices of government ministries participated in the study. Using a mixed methods research approach with an explanatory sequential research design, the study collected data using structured questionnaires and open-ended interviews. The study revealed that many government ministries failed to properly manage email as official records due to lapses in the regulatory, policy and procedural frameworks as well as due to skills and infrastructural deficiencies, among other factors. If no urgent efforts are effected, a lot of email records will be lost, thereby compromising accountability, transparency and informed decision-making in Zimbabwe’s central government. The study recommends that Zimbabwe’s central government should channel requisite material, financial and human resources as well as craft legal, policy and procedural frameworks in order to make email a useful record of choice worth its salt.

A “war against livelihoods”: Contestations over the government of Zimbabwe's response to street vending in selected cities

A “war against livelihoods”: Contestations over the government of Zimbabwe's response to street vending in selected cities

Socio-economic factors affecting access to birth registration among children born out of marriage: A study conducted in Harare

Africa, conceptually, geographically, politically, economically, religiously and socially is in bondage. Zimbabwe faces the problemof officially registering the births of children born out of marriage and other vulnerable children. This study explored the socioeconomic barriers hindering the Zimbabwe government birth registration of children born out of marrriage in the Harare central district of Zimbabwe. The impediments encountered by parents and guardians of children born out of marrriage have also emerged as a global human rights issue, with over 237 million children under the age of 5 without birth registration as at 7th July 2021, following the UNICEF birth registration tracking. Using qualitative phenomenology design, the study investigated livedexperiences of parents within the Harare Central district area. The participants were selected using the snowball samplingtechnique, while three key informants were purposively sampled by the researchers. The study findings indicated that there are aplethora of socio-economic challenges emanating from a deficient government registration system, more inclined to cater for theurban based population than the rural folk. Additionally, general poverty among the majority of the population played a significantrole for the majority, who could not afford transport fees to travel to registration centre among many others. Moreover, religiousand other patriarchal cultural practices hinder access to birth registration. How to reference using ASWNet style:Mavuka, A., Mashiri, C. & Soko, S. (2023). Socio-economic factors affecting access to birth registration among children born out of marrriage: a study conducted in Harare. African Journal of Social Work, 13(4), 207-216. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i4.4 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net

Economic-Induced Migration as a Security Threat to Regional Stability: The Case of Zimbabweans Migrating to South Africa

The purpose of this study was to understand economic-induced migration as a security threat to regional stability, with reference to Zimbabweans migrating to South Africa. The research employed qualitative research methodology, and a case study research design. Primary data was obtained from key informants, and secondary data from peer-reviewed articles, newspapers, and books. The results indicated that the causes of economic migration are economic hardships, unemployment, extreme poverty, and seeking better living conditions exacerbated by the nose-diving economy. The effects of economic migration on regional stability indicated that the hostility between the South Africans and the Zimbabwean immigrants was fueled by the scarcity of resources leading to harsh reactions such as xenophobia, discrimination, organized crimes, human exploitation, and human insecurity hindering Southern Africa’s longstanding vision to have a united, peaceful and regional integration. The study concluded that there is a need for the sensitization of both the host and the migrants on the importance of coexisting peacefully; Zimbabwe needs to make economic reforms that attract potential investors and rebuild the collapsing economy. Therefore the study recommends that there is a need for the Government of Zimbabwe to revive its economy to curb economic migration.

Increased Gender Based Violence during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Zimbabwean Case Study

The brief addresses the increase of GBV in the wake of COVID-19. Outlining the possible triggers of violence under COVID-19 lockdowns, the brief argues that emergence situations affect social relations, worsen gender inequalities that already exist between men and women as well as violence perpetrated against women and girls .The brief stresses the need by the Zimbabwean government to come up with strategies and measures so that rampant cases of gender based violence may be kept at bay in future health pandemics through identifying and developing needs based solutions, where women and girls are at the center of responses to the crisis. The brief also targets researchers and practitioners to help inform further evidence generation and policy action within the broader intersectional gender- and feminist-informed pandemic response. The brief concludes by making recommendations on how the Zimbabwean government can prepare for future health pandemics.Under current lockdown conditions, desk review, social, media reports analysis; observation and telephone interviews with key selected informants were used.

The Role of the Zimbabwean Government in the Implementation of Management Accounting among Small and Medium Enterprises

Purpose: This paper aimed to investigate the role of the Zimbabwean government in the implementation of Management Accounting Practices (MAPs) among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Management accounting is a crucial instrument for success, particularly for SMEs, according to earlier studies. The study noted that there is a dearth of literature on the government's support for the adoption of management accounting SME sector. Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from 88 participants. Zimbabwe has no SME database, hence, a chain referral sampling technique was used. The data were interpreted using qualitative content analysis. Findings: The study found that there is little that is done by the Zimbabwean government in promoting the use of management accounting among SMEs The areas covered in government-sponsored training for SMEs are bookkeeping, entrepreneurship, and tax preparation; management accounting is not addressed. Originality/Value: In order to increase public understanding of MAPs, the research advises the Zimbabwean government to conduct seminars, launch awareness-raising campaigns, and establish policies that encourage the use of management accounting.

Policy Reform in a Colonial Setting: A Historical Discourse Analysis of George Stark’s Advocacy for Technical-Vocational Education

Colonial education is often criticized for being conservative, static, oppressive, and irrelevant to the needs and interests of the colonized people. This theoretical paper, however, disrupts the established narrative of condemnation by challenging scholars of curriculum reform to take a fresh look at colonial education policy. This study teases George Stark’s policy of technical-vocational education for Africans by employing critical policy historiography as the theoretical framework and historical discourse analysis as its methodology. Two questions drive this theoretical paper: What were the central tenets of George Stark’s curriculum reform policy in Rhodesia, and what lessons can be drawn from this policy to inform contemporary education reform in Zimbabwean secondary schools? From the research findings, it cannot be disputed that Stark’s reform policy for African education in colonial Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was fervently racist and discriminatory, as it was framed within the overarching scope of white hegemony. But his advocacy for a practical technical-vocational curriculum for Africans seems pragmatic, visionary, and prophetic. These findings become more compelling when considering the current clarion call for worldwide technical-vocational education. As if policy planners are scavenging nuggets from Stark’s widely condemned colonial script, the Zimbabwe government is currently piloting a reform initiative to transform secondary education from an academic to a practical-oriented curriculum. In light of these findings, it appears there are several lessons to be drawn from Stark’s colonial policy for technical-vocational education to inform current curriculum reform and practice in Zimbabwe and globally. Keywords: Curriculum reform, colonial education, critical policy historiography, historical discourse analysis, technical-vocational education

Zimbabwe’s roadmap for decarbonisation and resilience: An evaluation of policy (in)consistency

Zimbabwe intends to build resilience mechanisms against climate change while at the same time ensuring sustainable development in recognition of its climate change vulnerability and national circumstances, in line with the demands of the Paris Agreement of reducing emissions by 2030. The study examined the consistency of government policies in reducing emissions by 1278GgCO2 by 2030. The study reviewed government policies and environmental projects intended at reducing carbon emissions. The results indicated that, on paper, the government has promising targets; but in reality, there are inconsistencies indicating the release of more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The inconsistencies include the commissioned Hwange thermal power station and fossil fuel-powered locomotives. The study found that there is strategic coherence between policy objectives, aimed at building resilient and low-carbon human settlement, and objectives of international policies such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Paris Agreement and SENDAI Framework. The compulsory mixing of petrol and ethanol and the introduction of electric cars in the transportation sector demonstrated the limited but commendable efforts by the government in embracing renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions. The study established that poor policy implementation and lack of policy harmonisation have led to the failure of the Zimbabwean government to have policy consistency in terms of the decarbonisation roadmap resulting in policy conflicts and contradictions. An example of policy duplication is in, the Environmental Management Act and Forestry Act which can have sections dealing with climate change harmonised into the Climate Change Policy. The study recommends that the government establishes a National Climate Financing mechanism for cleaner technologies and practices to reduce emissions by 2030.

The Impact of The Zimbabwe Government's Fiscal Policy on The Destruction of The Country's Economy

This political economy study in international relations explains the impact of the government's fiscal policy on foreign loans to the IMF in 2020. The fiscal policy carried out by the Robert Mugabe government has negatively impacted Zimbabwe's economy. The land reform policy was carried out to forcibly take land belonging to white farmers and give it to supporters of Robert Mugabe's political party. The land reform policy reduced economic growth and experienced hyperinflation, and as a result, the IMF suspended aid for Zimbabwe's foreign loans. This study aims to explain the impact of land reform policies on IMF foreign loans in 2020 and describe their impact on the Zimbabwean economy. The object of this research is land reform policies in Zimbabwe. This qualitative research uses descriptive methods and collects data from books, journals, official publications, and relevant websites. This paper uses a behavioralist perspective and the theory of international economic cooperation by Anne Kruenger, Deepak Lal. The results showed that hyperinflation in Zimbabwe was terrible for society, and the IMF decided to make economic aid to Zimbabwe worse.

Chilonga cultural landscape in the shadow of eviction: living cultural heritage, livelihoods and minority Indigenous people’s rights under threat in Zimbabwe?

ABSTRACT Indigenous people’s cultural heritage is increasingly being subjected to political, social, and economic pressures in the light of capitalism, foreign investment, and displacement perpetuated by external development programmes. Shangaan people in Chilonga communal lands, Chiredzi District in Masvingo Province of south-eastern Zimbabwe are victims of such regimes as the government seeks to evict them from their ancestral lands. The Zimbabwean government’s plan to relocate the Shangaan people from their communal territory is problematic for many reasons; it shows the government’s failure to uphold human rights, respect property rights, Indigenous rights, and cultural rights. The displacement has a longer-lasting socio-cultural, ecological, and economic impact, affecting cultural diversity and socio-cultural interactions as the government plans to forcefully remove families from their heritage and way of life and change their community set-up. This may, in turn, lead to new patterns of inequalities, loss of cultural heritage, and vulnerabilities. This article disentangles such dynamics and sheds light on endangered human rights, cultural heritage, and its practitioners.

Climate change and vulnerabilities of children in rural Zimbabwe: The case of ward 14 of Bikita District, Zimbabwe

The paper interrogates the impact of climate change towards the vulnerabilities of children in rural Zimbabwe. The paper utilised qualitative case study research design so as to generate the empirical evidence for this paper and the Ubuntu or Hunhu philosophy was used as a theory for analysing and, interpreting the lives of these vulnerable children. Research findings suggest that the impact of climate change has been unprecedented on the lives of children in rural Zimbabwe. Some of the impact included; hunger and food insecurity, decrease in school attendance, early or forced marriages, sexual exploitation, gold panning, child labour and abuse, child prostitution, drug use and abuse, the spread of climate change related diseases among others. The paper concludes by lobbying and advocating the Government of Zimbabwe and other key stakeholders to invest more resources on climate proof and adaptation strategies particularly in rural areas.
 How to reference using ASWNet style:
 Chikoko W. and Chihiya P. (2023). Climate change and vulnerabilities of children in rural Zimbabwe: The case of ward 14 of Bikita District, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Social Work, 13(2), 78-86. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i2.4
 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net

New Contours of Church and State Relations: The Faithfully Obedient Indigenous Churches in 21st Century Zimbabwe

This article explores the role of indigenous churches in the struggle for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe. For many years, the government of Zimbabwe has been trying desperately to assert its authority over the church. Upon realising that it could not win the battle to control churches of Western origins, the government turned to the white garment worshippers, popularly known as Mapostori. It is no surprise that the ruling party, Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), looks to ecclesiastical institutions – particularly the indigenous Churches that used to sing the praises of Mugabe, and now of Mnangagwa – to boost its support base. The church can either legitimate the current state of affairs, or call for change of the status quo. Reconstruction and transformation are fundamental pillars of the beliefs of world-affirming Christians. Human transformation is part and parcel of the work of Jesus Christ. Through the interpretive phenomenological analysis the foundational nature and thrust of the church’s evolution of religious social thought, and its understanding of reality is explored. Christians in Zimbabwe have been increasingly working to promote the creation of democratic structures and the rule of law. Democracy and freedom are the foundations of humane existence. Without democracy and freedom, Zimbabwe cannot develop, and Zimbabweans can enjoy neither happiness nor tranquillity. The points of compatibility and incompatibility between the church and the state also depend largely on the theology of particular churches. Indigenous churches are diverse, among which are the Johane Marange Apostolic Church, Vadzidzi, Madzibaba, Johane Masowe eChishanu, Masowe enguwoTsvuku, Guta raJehova and Zion Christian Church. In local parlance, they are either termed Masowe or Mapostori, and the two terms can also be used interchangeably. This article explores the use of ecclesiastical bodies by secular authorities in 21st century Zimbabwe.