Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of internal controls on sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD), Zimbabwe. The question at the core of this research is: to what extent do internal controls influence the sustainability of SMEs in Harare’s Central Business District, Zimbabwe. SMEs are perceived to be of paramount importance for the economic affluence of countries the world over, mainly because of their pronounced benefaction and contribution to livelihoods of the dwellers of a country and the gross domestic product (GDP). SMEs have been credited for playing a leading role when it comes to innovation, significant export revenue, custom-suited goods, services provision to society, employment opportunities, and social contribution. This can also be attributed to SMEs operating in Zimbabwe despite the volatility of the Zimbabwean economy. The Zimbabwean business environment, in general, is constantly changing. The changes can be attributed to an eruptive economic environment and unstable political atmosphere. The resultant effect is the departure of larger businesses and investors from the country. Generally, this leaves a great opportunity for SMEs not to be subjected to stiff competition from larger businesses. SMEs are indeed enjoying this space, braving the conditions to start up; however, their operations are short-lived. For SMEs to brave the fortuity of such an unpredictable environment, a system of internal controls must be in place. Research has placed emphasis on internal controls and sustainability of large organisations, while little to no attention has been given to SMEs. The little research on internal controls and sustainability in the context of SMEs has mostly been done in developed countries. Despite this, internal controls and sustainability have not been extensively implemented in the context of developing countries. The need to determine the influence of internal controls on sustainability of SMEs underlines this research. This report adopted a positivist philosophy that entailed utilizing a survey questionnaire to collect data from 150 SMEs operating in Harare’s CBD, Zimbabwe. The sample was further split into Active SMEs and Dormant SMEs (the control group). Data were analysed through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 to spawn statistical and descriptive results. To determine reliability of data, Cronbach’s alpha value was employed. The results indicate SMEs are not implementing controls as they ought to and those SMEs that have controls in place do not ensure that they are adhered to effectively and efficiently in order for them to achieve their desired objectives.

Death and bereavement are prevalent in Zimbabwe due to HIV/AIDS and other illnesses. It is estimated that a large population of school going learners have lost one or both parents and have become orphans. The aim of the study was two-fold: to understand the bereavement experiences of orphaned learners and to examine how such experiences can inform school counselling services. A multiple case study involving 13 school children and four school counsellors from two secondary schools in Harare Metropolitan Region was conducted. Each of the 17 participants was viewed as a bounded case due to his or her individual unique experiences. An interpretive phenomenological approach was employed to collect and analyse the data. All the cases were purposively selected as they were bearers of crucial information on bereavement experiences and bereavement counselling. The study established nine (9) key findings. First, it was found that the type of attachments and support systems the child had were contributory to the way the child experienced bereavement. Second, it was established that although learners manifested emotional pain, they found it difficult to verbalise it. Third, the study found that cultural practices either exacerbate or work for the better for bereaved children as some were seen to enhance their livelihood whilst some were detrimental and oppressive. Fourth, it was established that bereavement triggered philosophical and reflexive reactions on the part of bereaved children. The deaths of the parents resulted in them reflecting on the three phases of their life trajectories: life before death; at the time of death; and after death. Fifth, it was also established in the study that there was a mismatch in what children and counsellors claimed to be happening in secondary schools pertaining bereavement counselling provisioning. Sixth, the study found that most children did not receive any bereavement counselling in schools. Only three out of the 13 learner cases interviewed in this study had a teacher in the school talk to them about loss of their parents. In some instances, a child’s bereavement was only discovered through the grapevine or when this researcher got to the school. Seventh, it was established that although counsellors were qualified as both teachers and counsellors, they lacked confidence in dealing with sensitive issues such as bereavement. Eighth, the study also found that although there is a lot of death in Zimbabwe the counselling syllabi lacked focus on bereavement counselling. Ninth, it was also discovered that teachers who were not assigned to counselling duties had negative attitudes towards counselling, a matter which has serious consequences for the bereaved learners. Based on the above findings, the study concludes that bereaved children experienced a variety of circumstances that impacted both positively and negatively on their schooling and rendered them in need of bereavement counselling. It also concludes that bereaved learners in selected Harare schools were not receiving adequate bereavement counselling; schools neither had policies nor laid down procedures on bereavement counselling. For further research, the study recommends that there should be research focusing on methodologies designed to access children’s innermost feelings of emotional pain. There should be further research on the nature of the relationship between a child’s bereavement and educational experiences. Studies involving other bereaved populations, such as, children from rural areas and primary school children should be carried out in order to gain insights on how the phenomenon is experienced by different age groups in different contexts. To improve counselling practice in schools, the study recommends that there should be capacity building programmes aimed at assisting teachers to deal with bereavement counselling. School bereavement counselling should explore collaboration with other stakeholders such as peers, care givers and government as well as non-governmental organisations. Above all, the study recommends that schools should be proactive and have school bereavement policies and procedures on bereavement counselling.

The study sought to establish the causes, manifestation and impact of classroom aggression on students’ physical and mental health and academic performance in Harare urban secondary schools in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research design methodology was used in this study. The participants in the study were 40 students and 15 teachers from 10 urban schools in Harare Metropolitan Province. In-depth interview schedules and focus group discussions were used to collect data. The study used a narrative analysis of interview and focus group texts. The data was analysed using a narrative approach. The findings are presented according to the research questions in narrative form illustrated by quotations. The findings of the study revealed that participants believed that classroom aggressive behaviour was caused by biological, social and economic factors. Biological factors included temperament, hormonal imbalances during the menstrual cycle, secondary changes during puberty such as physical strength and certain medical conditions. Social factors included jealousy between romantic suitors, group dynamics during sports competitions and school transitions, rogue prefects, gangs, peer pressure, sexual abuse, corporal punishment, family factors and religious and cultural beliefs. Aggressive behaviour was manifested in physical, relational, cyber and verbal forms. The study also revealed that aggressive behaviour resulted in negative effects that included students incurring physical injuries, committing suicide, experiencing depressive symptoms, anxiety, performing poorly academically and early school leaving. Recommendations for policy and further research were made. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The population of Glen View, a high density residential area in Harare, Zimbabwe is increasing. The effects on area living conditions are deleterious. The situation is expected to deteriorate further due to projected population increases: This creative project presents strategic planning, through Recommendations and Guidelines, for the high density residential area of Glen View. This project involves recommending guidelines for innovative urban planning strategies to address the significant living difficulties existing in Glen View. The sources used were secondary and related published material along with the knowledge gained through my personal experience in the high density residential areas in Harare, Zimbabwe during the summer of 1990. It is intended that this project can serve as an example of how innovative planning can work to create a better quality of life for people living in high density residential areas in developing countries. / Department of Urban Planning

Text in English / Many African countries including Zimbabwe have scaled up and included male circumcision in their comprehensive HIV Prevention package. However, the impact of male circumcision on male sexual function and satisfaction has remained controversial. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of male circumcision on sexual function and satisfaction in Harare, Zimbabwe. A quantitative study was carried out amongst a sample of 169 circumcised men using a questionnaire. The results showed that circumcision has a positive effect on both male sexual function and satisfaction. It was concluded that undergoing voluntary medical male circumcision have a high degree of satisfaction with the procedure and its consequences in terms of sexual function and satisfaction. It was recommended that men are educated about these findings so as to clear myths and misconceptions around circumcision. / Health Studies / M.P.H.

Text in English / Industrial sites in Harare contribute significantly to the economy of Zimbabwe. Harare is the capital city of Zimbabwe and therefore has significant manufacturing and commercial activity. The protection of industrial sites is very important because of the presence of valuable assets and operations. Therefore the main purpose of deploying security measures at industry premises is to create a safe and secure environment for the business functions. Security management is consequently an important element of an industrial organisation’s continuity. The implementation of integrated security systems was examined to some extent within this study. The size and nature of industrial facilities influenced this study to view integrated security systems as more effective than stand-alone security measures. The study sought to investigate the various aspects associated with the implementation. The purposes of the research included the following: • Examine current practices, benefits, shortcomings in the implementation of integrated security systems; • Critically evaluate the security management aspects required for the implementation ofintegrated security systems; • Investigate successes and failures associated with integrated security systems and how implementation can be improved; • Examine and identify factors necessary for a best practice approach to integrated security systems; and • Determine a methodology for the effective implementation of integrated security systems. Additionally the study briefly examined how security systems integration can assist in reducing the problem of connivance to theft at receiving and dispatch points at industrial facilities. The report is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 covers the research problem, Chapter 2 deals with the research methods while Chapter 3 has insightful information from literature review. Chapter 4 presents the data and how it was analysed. Lastly Chapter 5 has findings, recommendations and conclusions. The study used the mixed-method approach. This approach includes both qualitative and quantitative research in order to gain a more in-depth understanding of the research problem. The methods of data collection were site visits, interviews and questionnaires. The sample was drawn from a cross-section of sites within the industrial areas of Workington, Southerton, Willowvale, Graniteside, Msasa and few outside industries in the vicinity of Harare. A total of 11 sites were observed. The interviews consisted of 30 participants who were mainly security practitioners at management level as well as some non-security managers. In addition, a total of 102 respondents participated in this study by completing the questionnaire. The majority of the respondents were security practitioners who were the main focus of the study. The findings support the various aspects of the implementation of integrated security systems. The conclusions emanating from the statistical analysis of the collected data included the following: • The critical assets for protection at industrial facilities are infrastructure, products, revenue, people and other movable items or equipment; • The main threat sources are from outsiders, crime syndicates and employees; • Security systems suitable for integration are CCTV, electronic access control, alarms, personnel, policies and procedures backed by information communication technologies. • Security should be functionally integrated with other departments which include Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Operations and Marketing; • The preferred mode of linkage was established to be fibre optic on a local area or wide area network using intranet or internet; • The key players in the integration were found to be security practitioners, top management, IT specialist, system suppliers, installers and operators; • The implementation process consists of security policy, survey, system design, procurement, installation, training, operating, review and upgrade; • Factors necessary for best practice include system purpose, availability of resources, top management commitment, skills, and feasibility to implement; • The benefits are mainly improved effectiveness, easy of monitoring, improved outlook and record keeping; • The most significant challenges are system breakdown, sabotage and power outage; and • Connivance to theft can be mitigated by a combination of staff rotation, dedicated CCTV, spot checks, undercover surveillance and functional integration. area network using intranet or internet; • The key players in the integration were found to be security practitioners, top management, IT specialist, system suppliers, installers and operators; • The implementation process consists of security policy, survey, system design, procurement, installation, training, operating, review and upgrade; • Factors necessary for best practice include system purpose, availability of resources, top management commitment, skills, and feasibility to implement; • The benefits are mainly improved effectiveness, easy of monitoring, improved outlook and record keeping; • The most significant challenges are system breakdown, sabotage and power outage; and • Connivance to theft can be mitigated by a combination of staff rotation, dedicated CCTV, spot checks, undercover surveillance and functional integration. / Security Risk Management / M. Tech. (Security Management)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the Harare Public Library, Khayelitsha, in empowering Early Childhood Development Centres (crèches and nursery schools) in its community. The researcher focused on the relationships the library has with Early Childhood Development Centres in its community, and the non-profit organisation (NPO) providing educational services. It is argued that the provision of ECD will help reduce the cycle of poverty by strengthening the educational foundation of South Africa’s children. The main finding of the study is that strong relationships between libraries and other community stakeholders are critical in offering a better future for the children of disadvantaged communities.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utilization of Postnatal Services at St. Joseph's Clinic. Sixty women of child- bearing age participated in the study. Convenience sampling was utilised. An integration of Qualitative and Quantitative approaches were used for collection and analysis of data. The results of the study showed that women had high knowledge about the sixth week PNC. Women's attitudes regarding attendance at the sixth week PNC were both positive and negative. The relationship between knowledge and attitude was significant (r = .2999, p = .044) The study concluded that, the attitudes of women towards attendance at the sixth week PNC were mostly negative. Four themes emerged from the study. Some of the recommendations of the study included a need for review of information given to mothers regarding its relevance and appropriateness; a need to foster more positive attitudes in women towards attendance at the sixth week PNC. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The main objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the strategies employed by the City of Harare in household solid waste management. To achieve these, structured questionnaires, interviews, observations and focus group discussions were employed in data gathering together with secondary data. The study was conducted in Harare’s low, medium and high density income suburbs. Findings revealed that organic solid waste constituted the largest proportion of waste generated in Harare and other forms are also generated yet their collection is very minimal. Residents resort to illegal night dumping, resulting in the proliferation of associated diseases. In light of these findings, it was recommended that waste collection entities be capacitated, people be educated on waste recycling, reduction and reusing. A commission was to be put in place to ensure proper enforcement of waste legislation, effective and sustainable day in running of household solid waste management in the city / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Management)

Text in English / The small house phenomenon amongst the Shona people in contemporary Zimbabwe forms part of the relationship and household arrangements amongst certain heterosexual couples. In cases where partners engage in small house relationships, it has specific implications for existing marriage and family dynamics. The study sought to address the question: What are the perceptions on gender dynamics of the small house phenomenon as an emerging family structure in contemporary Zimbabwean society? The relative newness as well as the secretive nature and complexity of the small house relationship, render the nuances of gender dynamics in such contexts worth exploring to add value to the Sociology of Families and gender dynamics. The research was conducted in Harare metropolitan province and adopted social exchange theory and African feminism to illuminate the gender dynamics in small house households. It utilised a qualitative research paradigm and employed in-depth interviews to collect data from 30 participants who were purposively sampled. Findings of the study reveal that although the small house relationship may at times be informed by the ideals of traditional Shona polygynous marital practices, it differs in several respects with polygyny as it attempts to adapt to the socio-economic demands of the 21st century. The study uncovers that the social exchanges in small house relationships are not only gendered, but also based on inequalities relating to class, age and lineage. The small house relationship at times perpetuates gender inequalities between the partners involved. The study exposed how certain small house relationships were inundated with a myriad of problems including gender-based violence, financial constraints and increased susceptibility to HIV and AIDS and other STIs. Problems experienced in small house households are often exacerbated by the secretive nature of the relationship. Furthermore, a form of hegemonic masculinity and emphasised femininity, which are manifestations of the deeply entrenched patriarchal hegemony in the Shona culture, results in asymmetrical intimate relations. It was also revealed that small house households may inadvertently violate children’s rights, including opportunities to access and secure education and social security. Reportedly, disengaged fatherhood in the context of the small house can affect children’s welfare and socialisation negatively. / Sociology / D. Phil. (Sociology)