MRDV / Institute for Rural Development / Over the past decade, there has been increased attention in international development literature on the concept of ‘development through sport’. Sport has long been used in various capacities of development practice especially in lower income countries. Various studies on sport development in rural areas have been undertaken. However, they do not provide a clear explanation of the major factors that constrain the growth and improvement of sport in rural communities in most developing countries. This study focused on identifying the factors that limit sport development in the rural areas of Mutoko District in Zimbabwe. A mixed method approach was followed. The first phase was exploratory and qualitative in nature. In phase 2, quantitative studies, which were mainly confirmatory were carried out. Youth (males and females), men, women, disabled people, school heads, District administrators, club coaches, chiefs and headmen were the respondents. Focus group discussions, participant observation, semi structured interviewing and assistive devices were used to gather data in the first phase. The Thematic Content Analysis was used to analyse the data. A questionnaire containing both open and closed-ended questions was used to confirm the results of phase one. Frequencies were calculated using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0. Sport development in Mutoko District was found to be poor, mainly as a result of multiple challenges such as inadequate funding, poor sporting infrastructure, low stakeholder support, shortage of qualified coaches, and lack of appropriate attire and equipment. Schools played a significant role in providing sporting opportunities for the youth in the District. Male youth were reported to be more readily participating part in sporting activities compared to their female counterparts. This was said to be due to the existence of only one professional sport club for males in the District. Apart from this, there was poor awareness and appreciating of the benefits of participating in sporting activities. Based on these results, it was recommended that government support in terms of funding and availing sport infrastructure was crucial in promoting sport development. Grassroots community members and other local stakeholders could support sporting activities through schools.

MRDV / Institute for Rural Development / In most poverty-stricken countries, edible indigenous plants (EIPs) have been an ever-present component of the household food and nutrition security equation since time immemorial. The place of these plants in the household food and nutrition debate and matrix is unclear. Yet, their existence lessens the impact of food and nutrition insecurity on household livelihoods. A study that was premised on the view that the types of EIPs within their local context is important although cultural domains limit the extent of their utilisation was conducted in Muchesu Ward of Binga District in north-western Zimbabwe. The study was born out of the realisation that there was inadequate scientifically generated information on how communities benefit from the EIPs. Of interest was how prevailing global environmental and economic changes influenced household food and nutrition security. Furthermore, it was evident that new approaches were needed to help build an understanding of where EIPs fitted within the food and nutrition security debate and matrix. The main objective of the current study was to characterise EIPs and examine their role in combating food and nutrition insecurity. Exploratory and phenomenological designs were used during characterising EIPs. Respondents were purposively sampled. Data were collected through participatory mapping, transect walks, focus group discussions, seasonal diagramming, key informant interviews and observation. Scoring, matrix ranking, and thematic content analysis were used to analyse the data. Inventories revealed that EIPs were available, accessible and utilised in various ways. Identified EIPs were classified according to the parts that were eaten namely: leafy vegetables, fruits, and tubers. Forty-seven leafy vegetables, 36 fruits and 26 tubers regarded as EIPs were identified. Seasonal availability of EIPs varied across the months of the year. Use of leafy vegetables peaked during the rainy season. Fruits were available in most months of the year although a considerable number of types was available and harvested during the rainy season. Tubers were also available in varied months of the year. Timing was crucial for harvesting tubers. The preparation of 20 EIPs and their uses were documented considering their medicinal properties and other uses. It was noted that some plants were edible and had medicinal value. Considering the observations made in the study, the following conclusions and recommendations were proposed: (1) Conservation and improved ways of harvesting EIPs so as to enhance their sustainability; (2) Produce seasonal calendars to help assess when a certain community is likely to be food insecure; and (3) Conduct further research focusing on the nutritional content of identified plants, which would enable better decision making with respect to household and community nutrition security. / NRF

MPH / Department of Public Health / Background: Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the major public health problems that has negatively impacted mostly orphans leaving in child-headed families in the world. A child- headed family is defined as a family, living under the same roof, which is headed by a person under the age of 18 years. Many of these children have become heads of households and they are obliged to look after themselves and siblings. As a result, some children drop out from school while looking for jobs to sustain the family. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore and describe the experiences of children in HIV/AIDS-affected child-headed families in Zimbabwe. Methodology: The researcher employed qualitative approach with explorative, descriptive, contextual and phenomenological designs. Nonprobability purposive sampling was used to select the participant. Children aged between 12-18 years were selected as they were able to narrate their life experiences. In-depth face to face individual interviews were used to collect data pertaining to experiences of children in HIV/AIDS child-headed families. Data was transcribed verbatim, and then translated from Shona to English. The data was then analysed following Tesch’s eight steps model. Findings: The findings of the study revealed that children in HIV/AIDS-affected child-headed families were lacking basic commodities such as food, clothing, shelter and clean water. The findings also revealed that children living in HIV/AIDS-affected child-headed families were being abused physically, sexually, emotionally and verbally. The findings of the study also revealed that children living in HIV/AIDS-affected child-headed families received support from the government, non-governmental organisations, community and relatives. / NRF

As the debate on the impacts of global climate change goes on at global and regional scale, climate change impacts are already being felt at local level. The thesis aims at exploring climate change as a driver of environmental and smallholder farmers’ livelihood vulnerability in Makonde District of Zimbabwe. Specifically the study seeks to: determine climate change trends and manifestations; evaluate household-level impacts of climate change and associated environmental changes on smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and lastly; to investigate the extent of household-level coping and adaptation strategies to climate change in the Makonde rural community in Zimbabwe, especially farmers in Makonde Communal Lands. Given the fact that the subject under study is multidimensional in scope, a mix of research methods was adopted in this case study. Whilst it is largely qualitative in design, the study involved some quantitative data and thus, a triangulation of different data sources and data gathering instruments was employed. The instruments used include; key informant interviews, structured observations and a household questionnaire survey. The analysis was based on a final sample of 434 out of the originally anticipated 500 households. In addition to the households’ sample, were twenty key informants and transect walk observations. The qualitative data was analyzed by means of coding, memoing, descriptions, typologies, taxonomies and visual representations, whilst quantitative data was processed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and complimented by Microsoft Excel to generate various forms of descriptive statistics. The findings suggest that climate change in the Makonde Rural District that includes the Makonde Communal Lands has been significant during the past thirty years. The climate change has contributed to significant local environmental stresses affecting local resources such as forests, fauna, water, pastures and soil among other natural assets. The local livelihoods show high levels of vulnerability to climate change due to notable low adaptive capacity. The high level of vulnerability to changing climate is exposing the study population to increased prevalence of: poverty, crop and livestock failures, food insecurity, malnutrition, disease and rural urban migration among other impacts. The study concludes that the factors creating barriers to climate change adaptation are related those contributing to poverty and holding back sustainable local development. Among the key suggestions to enhance the community’s climate change adaptation capacity, the thesis presents an establishment of a government-driven, multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder intervention mechanism to help local communities manage their vulnerability. / Environmental Sciences / D. Litt. et Phil. (Environmental Management)

This study examines the role of livelihood diversification in promoting household food security with particular reference to Hurungwe District in Zimbabwe. This focuses on assessing the contribution and impact of predominant livelihood diversification strategies in study area. The study employed qualitative methods of research entailing focus group discussions, observation, key informant interviews and literature review as methods of data collection. The study revealed that limited access to credit, skills development, markets and transport infrastructure weaken the efficacy of nonfarm livelihoods to improve food security. Key recommendations are that government, NGOs and communities must work in tandem to increase livelihood options for food insecure communities. Suggested strategies include increasing access to micro finance, vocational skills training and other support services paying attention to gender considerations. Areas requiring further investigation which emanated from the study include the impact of the shift to tobacco farming and how biotechnology has affected smallholder farmers. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

This study examines the role of livelihood diversification in promoting household food security with particular reference to Hurungwe District in Zimbabwe. This focuses on assessing the contribution and impact of predominant livelihood diversification strategies in study area. The study employed qualitative methods of research entailing focus group discussions, observation, key informant interviews and literature review as methods of data collection. The study revealed that limited access to credit, skills development, markets and transport infrastructure weaken the efficacy of nonfarm livelihoods to improve food security. Key recommendations are that government, NGOs and communities must work in tandem to increase livelihood options for food insecure communities. Suggested strategies include increasing access to micro finance, vocational skills training and other support services paying attention to gender considerations. Areas requiring further investigation which emanated from the study include the impact of the shift to tobacco farming and how biotechnology has affected smallholder farmers. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

The integration and evangelisation of the minority groups in Zimbabwe in general, and in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in particular poses a challenge. The situation has become more acute after independence. Evidently, the socio-political atmosphere in Zimbabwe has not ameliorated the condition. Certainly, challenges stem from issues concerning racial prejudice, finances, cultural differences, as well as worship styles. While the efforts of the current multicultural ministries are appreciated, the results of the survey indicate that a lot still needs to be done. First, the organizational structure of the ministry needs to be reviewed. Such a review is relevant in order to check and regulate the balance and distribution of power, control and authority. Second, the need for the recruitment of leaders from within the minority groups themselves especially from the white population was clearly articulated. Third, it may be necessary to approach the whole issue from a social standpoint, so as to formulate theological strategies. Apparently, the social distance is more pronounced than the theological one. In addition, integration and evangelisation specifically among the Coloured population is further compounded by the split, which occurred in the early 1990s. Most of the Sabbath-Keeping Adventists from this group anticipate challenges if they would opt to merge with the national Conference. Some of the major barriers to such a step revolve around issues of properties, finances, and positions as well as the general upkeep of the workers. Unless, these apprehensions are clarified and the fears are allayed, integration seems enigmatic. Ecclesiological unity and theological unity in diversity seem to be eclipsed by racial solidarity and socio-economic and political expediency. Similarly, the reconciliation among the black majority itself, also needs a close and deliberate attention from both the church and society in Zimbabwe. For that reason, tribalism, racism, ethnicity, nepotism and any other discrimination should not be tolerated, first and foremost by the church and second, by all peace loving Zimbabweans (Gal 3:28). The reconstruction of the cultural landscape in Zimbabwe demands an affirmation of the common destiny for all Zimbabweans. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)

Climate change involves long-term change in the state of the climate. It is expected to have negative effects which include the increased frequency and intensity of climate extremes such as droughts, floods and storms. In addition, agricultural seasons and productivity are generally expected to be affected. This is likely to compound the problems that rural people in Africa face, especially the smallholder farmers. Thus, adaptation is of paramount importance. However, many factors limit the ability of farmers to adapt to climate change. This includes lack of information and knowledge about climate change. In rural areas an important source of information is agricultural extension; however, in some cases it is not effective and efficient. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been noted to play an important role in the dissemination of agricultural information, and recently, their potential in contributing to climate change awareness and adaptation has received increased attention. Therefore, the study aims to explore how ICTs contribute to climate change awareness and adaptation amongst communal farmers. The study was conducted in Seke and Murewa Rural Districts (herein Seke and Murewa) situated in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe. The target population were communal farmers who are mainly dependent on agriculture (field crops, horticulture, fruit production, and livestock rearing). The two districts have climate associated with natural agro-ecological region II, with an average rainfall of 500-700 mm. The study used the mixed methods approach, which combined the quantitative method based on a survey of 300 farming households and the qualitative method based on key informant interviews. A multi-stage sampling approach was used for the survey. The data was collected in 2011. The Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) package was used for data entry and descriptive statistics, while Stata data analytical package was used for regression analysis. The first objective was to determine the level of access to ICTs by communal farmers in the two districts. Most of the respondents in both districts knew and owned the following ICTs namely, the radio, the mobile phone, and the television (TV). The main power sources for the ICTs were solar power, national grid electricity, and rechargeable batteries. Most of the respondents in both districts read newspapers, and church magazines. For almost all the print media in both districts, the main source of the media was through friends and relatives, buying and to some extent libraries and public places. The majority of respondents understood the language used in various ICTs, though some had difficulties in understanding the English language. The second objective was to assess how access to ICTs influenced climate change awareness amongst communal farmers in the two districts. The majority of respondents in both districts were generally found to be aware of climate change. Nevertheless, some of those who perceived themselves as being aware were actually not aware or had low awareness as revealed by the climate change awareness index. The respondents had limited understanding of the issues relating to causes and intervention measures to address climate change. From the regression analysis, the following factors were found to have a significant positive influence on climate change awareness: access to mobile phone, access to radio, access to newspapers, access to agricultural extension, participation in developmental and farmer organisations, having talked about climate change, education level, and age of the respondent. One variable namely position of authority had a significant negative relationship. The third objective of the study was to investigate the contribution of ICTs in climate change adaptation amongst the communal farmers. This objective was fulfilled by mainly concentrating on assessing how farmers accessed forecasting and early warning information. Up to two-thirds of the respondents indicated that they did not have access to timely early warning information on droughts and violent storms. In addition, around half of the respondents indicated that they were not getting information on the likely rainfall amount and distribution in the coming season. Respondents ranked deciding the planting dates and the choice of crop varieties as the most important farm decision-making activities that were influenced by forecasting information. Some of the channels through which farmers accessed early warning and weather information were radio, extension, direct enquiry, TV, other farmers, newspapers, mobile phone, and farming magazines. This study showed that both old and new ICTs are important in information dissemination and capacity building for climate change adaptation and awareness. In order for rural people to benefit from various applications and capabilities of ICTs, in particular, mobile phone applications, there is need to improve telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure. Agricultural extension workers who are an important source of information in rural areas, had less knowledge on climate change issues hence the need to incorporate such issues into their training. Initiatives to promote climate change awareness and adaptation should provide platforms for diverse stakeholders to share and exchange information and knowledge on climate change. There is need to improve the reliability of weather forecasting information as well as training farmers on how to interpret the information. Most importantly, complimentary agricultural information, inputs, and technologies should be available and accessible to the farmers. / Environmental Sciences / D. Litt. et Phil (Environmental Management)

The central aim of this study was to investigatethe role of principals in the implementation of polytechnic curriculum effectiveness strategy (PCS) in Zimbabwe. The specific objectives of the study were to: determine and evaluate the role and strategic leadership skills of polytechnic principals in the development of PCS, understand the challenges faced by polytechnic principals in the development and implementation of PCS, investigate the extent to which principals provide lecturers with opportunities to enhance their teaching skills through professional development and derive a suitable model to be used in drafting and implementing PCS. The main research question which this study sought to answer was, „What is the role played by strategic leadership in the implementation of polytechnic curriculum effectiveness strategy?‟ In an attempt to realise that end, a mixed method research design was used to collect data, making use of questionnaires and interviews. The participants included 5 polytechnic principals, 123 lecturers, 77 students and 9 company training managers. The participants were selected through purposive, stratified and simple random sampling techniques drawn from five polytechnics selected for the study. The findings suggest that most polytechnic principals are rendered ineffective in implementing the PCS. Though the principals have a sound theoretical knowledge of their roles, they however experience a litany of practical impediments. These barriers include, inter alia, lack of curricula knowledge in the currere approach, action research, Basil Bernstein‟s and Paulo Freire‟s pedagogical discourses and reconceptualisation of curriculum, shortage of relevant instructional resources and poorly evaluated polytechnic curriculum, low level of staff incentive, training and development. Two systemic impediments in the principals‟ role of implementing PCS are: lack of autonomy in crafting and implementing PCS and lack consensus between Curriculum Research and Development Unit (CRADU) and National Manpower Advisory Council (NAMACO) in crafting policies on curriculum standards. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Education Management)

The research revolves on the emergence of globalisation, change, competition, work pressure, and risks among others which have exposed insurance employees to work stress that can interfere with home activities. The research purpose was to determine the relationship between work stress, work-home interference, and organisational culture among insurance employees in the Zimbabwean context. The sample consisted of 240 participants, from which data was collected from 190 employees who responded to the questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using SPSS, internal consistency reliability analysis, and the inter-correlation analysis. The inferential statistics used were multiple linear regression and one way ANOVA. Substantial positive and negative correlations were noted for the six sub-scales of the Occupational roles questionnaire (ORQ), negative work-home interference (NWHI) and positive work-home interference (PWHI) scales, and the three sub-scales of the Organisational culture index (OCI). The research concluded that different measures should be taken to manage work stressors, depending on the organisational culture, and its employees to prevent spill-over which contributes to negative work-home interference. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)