Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change in Smallholder Irrigation Schemes of Zimbabwe

Globally, climate change poses enormous threats to the livelihoods of rural communities in arid and semi-arid regions. Assessing the extent of vulnerability is critical to identify climate hot spots and develop appropriate adaptation policies and strategies. This paper uses the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and the Livelihood Vulnerability Index—Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (LVI-IPCC) to compare vulnerability to climate change in the Exchange, Insukamini, and Ruchanyu smallholder irrigation schemes (SISs) in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 317 randomly selected households. Results show higher exposure and sensitivity to climate change in the Insukamini irrigation scheme despite the higher adaptive capacity. Both LVI and LVI-IPCC show that households in Insukamini irrigation scheme are more vulnerable to climate change than in Exchange and Ruchanyu irrigation schemes, attributed to water insecurity, poor social networks, and natural disasters and climate variability. The study recommends that development and investment in Insukamini and Ruchanyu should prioritize improving social networks while Exchange should primarily focus on improving livelihood strategies. Using the LVI-IPCC framework is a key methodology for understanding the vulnerability of communities in SISs and identifying areas that need prime development and investment. These results have implications on implementing investments and livelihood policies in SISs of Zimbabwe.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Housing Service Delivery in Zimbabwean Local Authorities

This study investigates the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation systems for housing service delivery in local authorities in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has been experiencing poor housing service delivery and the Midlands province is characterized by housing backlog, poor quality housing projects, lack of housing finance, lack of technical capacity, and no new partnerships. Despite the Government of Zimbabwe introducing monitoring and evaluation tools in all public institutions to achieve good governance and effective housing service delivery, this did not fully address the housing problems experienced in the province. The research utilized the mixed-methods approach with a case study research design using urban and rural local authorities in the Midlands Province. The article recommended that the three tiers of government should work collaboratively with the aid of a monitoring and evaluation system to solve housing delivery problems. This study is critical for local government housing delivery performance management.

Football Spectator Violence During Matches at the Zimbabwe Football Association Division One Level in Gweru District

Background: A number of football matches in Gweru district have been characterised by undesirable acts of spectator violence resulting in injury and malicious damage to property. Football spectator violence is a very negative phenomenon in football because it chases away sponsors who do not want their organisations and brands to be associated with hooliganism. Violence also discourages spectators from attending football matches as they fear for their safety. This status quo precipitated the need to identify football stakeholders’ perceptions on the causes of spectator violence during football matches at Division One level in Gweru District. Aims: The primary aim and focus of this study was to investigate spectator violence among football spectators in Gweru district in Zimbabwe. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to identify the main causes of football spectator violence and recommend strategies to mitigate or even eliminate this scourge. Study Setting: The study was conducted in Gweru district in the midlands province of Zimbabwe. Materials and Methods: The study adopted the quantitative research approach utilising the descriptive survey design. Closed questionnaires were used to collect data from, twenty division one footballers from four Gweru division one football clubs, twenty spectators, six football referees and four coaches. This resulted in a total sample of fifty (50) respondents. Simple random sampling (Gold Fish Bowl procedure) was used to select the twenty players and six referees. Purposive sampling was used to select the four coaches and twenty football spectators. Statistics: Data was analysed statistically using simple frequency tables. Results and Conclusion: The study revealed that spectator violence during football matches at division one level in Gweru is mainly a result of hooliganism, controversial refereeing, lack of fair play by footballers in the field of play, outcome of matches, rivalry between clubs and euphoria. Factors such as use of juju, prestige seeking by spectators and reporting of violence by the media were found to be minor contributors towards football spectator violence during football matches in Gweru district. Recommendations: The study recommends that the Zimbabwe republic police who provide security during these violent matches should tighten security at football matches by searching all fans thoroughly for dangerous weapons and alcohol at stadia entry points. ZIFA and PSL should educate all football clubs on the negative effects of violence and punish offending teams severely. The clubs should educate their fans to shun violence. Sponsors should include funds in their sponsorship packages for purposes of educating fans on violence. Soccer players should lead by example and avoid provoking other team’s fans

Management of Local Authority Records at Zvishavane Town Council

This study evaluated records management practices at a local authority in Zimbabwe, with reference to Zvishavane Town Council in the South Midlands province of Zimbabwe. The purpose of the study was to establish the records management practice to expose the bedevil and recommend the best practice. To achieve the purpose of the study, qualitative research methodology was used through a case study design. Data was collected using interviews, document analysis, and direct observations. The findings of the study revealed that Zvishavane Town Council was practicing records management without a standard written down policy of records management. This led to an ad hoc system of practice in terms of good governance, accountability, and transparency in managing council records. The study recommends that records management at this council be done using a well-documented records management policy.

Peer pressure as a predictor of career decision-making among high school students in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe

Career decision-making, particularly among high school students, is something that all students should carefully consider since it has ripple effects in one’s life. This paper presents an overview of peer pressure as a factor that influences career decision-making among high school students in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. A quantitative research approach was used in the current study. A survey design that made use of questionnaires in collecting data was used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. A total of 1,010student participants and 20 career guidance teachers who were randomly selected participated in this study. Results from the study indicated that students are influenced by their peers in making career decisions in a number of ways. Chief among the predictors were peer advice, encouragement and peer education. However, students denied that they seek validation of their career decisions from their peers. The study recommended that a similar national study be carried out to enable generalisation of the results to a wider community. Keywords: Peer influence, career choices, decision-making, Midlands Province.

Msipa, Cephas G, In Pursuit of Freedom and Justice: A Memoir. Harare: Weaver Press 2015, xiv & 185 pp.

In Pursuit of Freedom and Justice: A Memoir by veteran nationalist Cephas Msipa joins the list of memoirs and biographies of women and men who fought for majority rule in Zimbabwe. Born on 7 July 1931 in the Shabani District in the Midlands province (p 1), "a teacher by profession and a politician by circumstances" (p ix), Msipa was a key member of the nationalist movement and a prominent politician in the post-colonial era. Born of poor peasants, Msipa's childhood was typical of many of his generation until he became politicised at a young age, especially during encounters with Benjamin Burombo, a proto-nationalist and a friend of his father, whom he describes as his political mentor (p 4).

Creating autonomous learners in the teaching of English as a second language (ESL) in Zimbabwean secondary schools : a reality or a myth?

This study explored the utility of the learner autonomy concept in the Zimbabwean O Level English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom focusing on three Gweru urban high schools of the Midlands Province. The researchers intended to establish whether learner autonomy was a reality or just a myth in Zimbabwean classrooms. A qualitative multiple case study design was applied focusing on teaching strategies, availability of resources, challenges faced and ways of optimising it. Questionnaires and document analysis were used for data collection. The findings revealed that the concept did not manifest in explicit terms, the learners did not participate in decision making, and the teachers were not adequately prepared to administer autonomous processes with students. For it to be a reality, the Education Ministry is recommended to establish a comprehensive framework of how autonomous learning should be implemented. Teacher training should explicitly focus on how to develop autonomous learners. Teachers ought to be flexible enough to accommodate learners' contributions towards their learning.