Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/350

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The Efficacy of Education Decentralisation Policy in Zimbabwe: A case of Kadoma District
(University of Fort Hare, 2008-11) Mupindu, Wiseman
The study focused on the efficacy of the democratic education decentralization policy implementation of the four schools of Kadoma District in Zimbabwe. The thesis reviewed literature and discussed the concept of the democratic education decentralization policy implementation and how this has been practiced in Zimbabwe. The theoretical basis of democratic education decentralization policies were outlined and the argument for and against the policy discussed.
The Challenges of Policy Implication of the South African Water Policy in the Rural Villages of the Eastern Cape Province: The case of Amathole District Municipality
(University of Fort Hare, 2008) Mgwali.V.V
This study has investigated the question of capacity building of the Amathole District Municipality to provide sufficient quantities of water as stated in the White Paper. This includes the village committees in the operation and maintenance of the water projects. According to the Water Service Act 108 Of 1997 a village water committee may set conditions, including tariffs consistent with this Act, for the provision of water services. It may subject to section 4, limit or discontinue water service to a consumer.
The Role PF Non Governmental Organisations in Substainable Local Economic Development: Case of South Africa
(University of Fort Hare, 2008) Moyo, Elisa
The failures of successive generations of imported western development strategies and projects to deliver meaningful reductions in poverty and achieve basic needs in Africa have provoked a deep questioning of Western concept of development. This stems from the fact that the state in most cases has failed especially on service delivery to cater for the well being of its people. Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and development practitioners are now increasingly focusing their attention on strategies which build upon local knowledge, skills and resources whereby the concept of self-reliance and local economic development are examined in the context of development challenges which face Africa. There are however a lot of negative perceptions, however, surrounding the whole issue of NGOs role in development, for instance, the issue of funding from external donors which makes them sometimes to pursue the interests of doors.
Citizenship, Gender and Development in Zimbabwe
(University of Fort Hare, 2004) Ndlovu, Octavia
This study focuses on gender and development in relation to the notion of citizenship. It is an inquiry into the position that is occupied by both men and women in the society based on their gender status. It is argued that citizenship does not merely mean the voting rights of people but goes further to include issues of participation, representation and access to resources by citizens who differ in various aspects. The existing power structure in Zimbabwe has kept women in marginalized positions in social, political and economic aspects of their lives. Women continue to be treated as second-class citizens in comparison to their male counterparts.
Gender and Employment in Post-Independence Zimbabwe
(University of Fort Hare, 2003) Ncube, Moreblessings
The study is premised on the basis that in the Zimbabwean labour market there is occupational discrimination among men and women. The labour market reveals that men and women are employed in different occupations, where women are concentrated in the administrative and clerical jobs, while men represent the executive . and managerial jobs. It is therefore necessary to understand the contemporary situation of the employment status historically, hence the study analyses the precolonial, colonial and post-colonial periods of Zimbabwean history. Although women have made considerable inroads into executive and managerial jobs, the rate is not convincing enough considering that women constitute more that 52% of the population. Women still do not have equal influence in political and decision-making bodies as well as in education. They continue to be marginalised in the economy and in the enjoyment of legal and human rights.
The District Development Planning Process in Bikita, Zimbabwe
(University of Fort Hare, 2003) Mutema, Jealousy
The establishment of Rural District Councils as basic development planning and administration units was intended to alleviate poverty in the Council areas by mobilizing local potentials to solve development problems. It was also expected to make the development of the country broad-based and more participatory in decision-making and therefore take cognizance of people's felt needs. This study evaluates the district development planning process in Bikita, Zimbabwe. The evaluation was done through a month of observation, interviews and content analysis of Bikita Rural District Council's planning documents
Land reform and Black Farmers in Zimbabwe: a Study on Policy Visions and Historical Realities
(University of Fort Hare, 2004) Mupaganda, H.
The economy of Zimbabwe depends on a stable agrarian growth. Agriculture contributes 11-14% of the country's GDP and contributes 33% of formal employment. On independence the Government of Zimbabwe inherited a skewed distribution of land, which favoured the white minority farmers. This necessitated a land reform programme. In addition to bringing about more equitable distribution of land, the land reform programme has the objective of ensuring a more efficient and rational structure of farming and natural resources, utilisation and higher labour absorption, which would reduce rural poverty. This study attempted to capture the realities of black farmers in Zimbabwe since the land reform programme using as a case study the Karoi district. The aim of the study was mainly to examine the extent to which black fanners have been able to access markets, credit facilities and infrastructure and also to investigate some of the problems these farmers encounter since land reform. Survey methods in the form of interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data for the study. The results show that the farmers have now adopted a market orientated type of farming. However they experience problems in credit, storage facilities and credit loans and, inputs that affect their farm productivity.
Social policy and the urban poor: an examination of the urban housing policy and its implications on the low-income earners of Harare municipality in Zimbabwe
(University of Fort Hare, 2003-11) Moyo, Wisdom
Housing plays a very crucial role in the lives of the people and it therefore important for authorities to put considerable effort to provide housing to those in need of them. The city of Harare has been experiencing the problem of housing for a considerable period of time. This has seen a number of urban housing policies being implemented but all these past policies could not avert the shortage of housing. Instead the demand for housing especially among low-income earners has been rising sharply.
Transforming Human Resources for the Reconstruction and Development of Society in South Africa
(University of Fort Hare, 2001) Stofile, S.N.
For the first time in South Africa's history, a government has the mandate to plan the development of the Further Education and Training system, which is a band that bridges General Education, that is, from grade one to grade twelve and the Higher Education band that is beyond grade twelve, for the benefit of the country as a whole and all its people. The challenge the government faces is to create a Further Education and Training system that will fulfill the vision to "open the doors of learning and culture to all in order to empower the people of South Africa in all facets of life.
Critiquing the Viability of a Trade Biased Approach to Regional Integration in Southern Africa
(University of Fort Hare, 2008-12) Chipendo, Kudakwashe
Africa’s international marginalization is preponderantly conceptualized through world systems approaches, particularly structural dependency. Consequently, the region’s socioeconomic quagmire‚ characterized by economic Stagnation, abysmal poverty, inequality and foreign dependency, is often attributed to its colonial heritage. Particular reference is made to the small size of the African state and its structural specialization in primary production. Collective self reliance based on mutual interdependence (regional integration) thus suggests itself as a logical way to overcome the structural constraints imposed by the small size of the state, while at the same time representing a viable alternative to asymmetric trade with developed countries. It is within the context of this theoretical framework that this study critiques the predisposition of the regional body in . Southern Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), towards a A trade biased approach to regional integration (market integration). This critique is based on theoretical and empirical findings showing that trade led strategies are primarily suited for developed countries with robust manufacturing industries and complimentary e production structures. Countries in Southern Africa are however characterized by a near absence of manufacturing industries, are at different levels of development and show low levels of trade complementarities. This study therefore concludes that market integration i is an inappropriate strategy for regional integration in Southern Africa and in the process suggests development integration — a political economy approach, as an alternative.
Informal Cross - Border Trade : A Review of its Impacts on Household Poverty Reduction (Zimbabwe).
(University of Fort Hare, 2008-11) Chani, Chivimbiso
This study endeavors to explore the value of informal cross-border trade to household poverty reduction. Informal cross-border trade has become a panacea to most Zimbabweans both employed and unemployed in the middle of the socio-economic crisis which has eroded the standards of living in Zimbabwe. This study is an eye opener to those who view informal cross-border trade as merely a survival strategy. It explores the efficacy of informal cross border trade as a poverty reduction strategy looking at its viability and sustainability despite criticism by many people who associate informal cross-border trade with all kinds of negativity. It thrusts forward the agenda of participatory poverty reduction agenda within a nexus of partnerships and relationships between the government, non-governmental organization, institutions and families.
Local Economic Development Initiatives as an Intervention Measure for Rural Development: A Case of the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape in South Africa
(University of Fort Hare, 2008-03) Dapira, Clarah
The demise of apartheid in the early 1990s has left South Africa with an indelible social and economic legacy which is characterised by racial division, discrimination‚ high unemployment and poverty rates. These developmental challenges are more pronounced among the previously disadvantaged communities especially in provinces that host the former homelands. Though it can be argued that the new democratic government has made tremendous strides in its first decade but‚ continuing poverty, and inequality tends to undermine these gains, some even sees it as a crisis and perhaps as a threat to survival (Cousin, 2004). Faced by this development impasse, the democratic government has adopted various development endeavours in an attempt to address issues of social and economic development. Among the various efforts being experimented with by the state and non-governmental organisations to bring about social and economic development in South Africa's rural-urban landscape or within the previously disadvantaged communities is Local Economic Development (LED).
Traditional Authorities and Social Development in South Africa
(University of Fort Hare, 2008) Adom, Alex, Yaw
Traditional leadership was the cornerstone of sociopolitical development in pre—colonial South Africa. However, with the arrival of the colonialists in Africa, this important institution became corrupt. The colonial administrators destabilized what traditional administration stood for and made use of native leaders as tools of colonial administration. In post 1994 however, leaders of South Africa have gone all out to revive traditional leadership in South Africa. It is based on the foregoing discussion that this study seeks to investigate traditional authorities and social development in South Africa. The focus is to interrogate whether the ANC-led govemment’s decisions to resuscitate native institutions in South Africa can help promote development.
An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Community Development Strategy on Poverty Alleviation in Zimbabwe
(University of Fort Hare, 2007) Chadoka, Rumbidzai
The major objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of community development projects in addressing poverty in Zimbabwe. In order to make this assessment an evaluation of Nyandoro community project was undertaken to find out if they have managed to create employment, increase consumption and increase the incomes Ievels of the majority of the population within these communities as it was the intention of government. The second goal of the state for these projects was to bring equity among the citizens by empowering and promoting people's participation in decision making and to reverse the years of deprivation and neglect of the poor. Therefore this study also made an assessment of the extent to which these objectives of the government have been accomplished. The research investigates the factors hampering the upliftment of the Iivelihoods of the poor through community development projects. For this study qualitative and quantitative methodology paradigms were employed. Qualitative research is one of the two major approaches to research methodology in social sciences. The qualitative perspective can give the researcher the inside view of the informants and can give the researcher a chance to probe for more information. Simply put, it investigates the why and how of decision making, as compared to what, where, and when. WhiIst on the other hand quantitative is deductive and will comprise of structured questions to eliminate researchers influence (Creswell, 1994:174). These two l perspectives complement each other and their convergence will increase confidence that what is being targeted is being accurately captured since any bias will be neutralised through the utilization of structured questions.
The effects of poverty on health equity in Zimbabwe : the case of Chegutu Urban District
(University of Fort Hare, 2016) Budzi, Joseph
This study employed a qualitative methodology to investigate the effects of poverty on health equity in Zimbabwe. The investigation was motivated by the fact that the effects of poverty on health in Chegutu District have not yet been examined systematically despite the fact that the focus on poverty and equity considerations dictates the opportunities for equal health for the marginalised people. The contemporary socioeconomic crisis in Zimbabwe has posed a serious challenge to the comprehensive and equitable health systems and wellbeing. There is mounting pressure globally to implement appropriate interventions that can contribute concretely to health institutions’ efforts to tackle poverty and health inequities. In Zimbabwe, the extent to which poor people, households and social groups are accessing the resources to be healthy strongly determines their health potential. The study also examined the role of the non-governmental organisations and the town municipality in addressing poverty and promoting health equity in Chegutu. It was established that the focus on poverty entails the broader commitment of the local government and NGOs to the achievement of greater equity in health using a human rights framework to consider both poverty and equity. In practice, all systematic differences in Chegutu could be regarded as unfair and avoidable, and therefore regarded as inequities. The evidence points to the existence of extensive and widening social inequities in Chegutu District which have escalated the unequal distribution of diseases and survival in the district. The complexity of poverty as it relates to the distribution of health in Chegutu demands new ways of understanding the growing rich-poor gap. Thus to understand this complexity the Capability Approach and the Sustainable Livelihood Approach were used as the basis for critical appraisal of the variables under study. This study advances the vii understanding of the urgent need to take action to reduce these inequities and their root causes. The study calls for new ways of thinking about the direction of policy and also calls for renewed vigilance in monitoring impacts, to make sure that no segment of the population is excluded. Their implementation is seen to be dependent on increasing the capacity and organisation of the poor to more strongly influence policy and resource distribution in the health sector. It is important that health services respond effectively to the major causes of preventable ill-health among the poor and disadvantaged so as to address these continuing inequalities.
The contribution of smallholder agriculture production to food security in rural Zimbabwe : a case study of Masvingo Province
(University of Fort Hare, 2016) Toringepi, Godfrey
Agricultural development is back on the development agenda. Even though the smallholder farmers are in the majority and at the forefront in terms of food production and agriculture being the backbone of the economy of Zimbabwe, there is no clearly defined policy on smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe. The food insecurity has remained a continuous challenge for the rural poor in Zimbabwe. This study investigated the contribution of smallholder agriculture to food security with particular reference to the Masvingo province. The study employed qualitative method of research entailing extensive review of literature as a method of data collection. The study utilized the modernisation theory and sustainable livelihoods framework to illustrate smallholder agriculture and food security nexus. The study revealed that smallholder agriculture is the best option for addressing food security since agriculture is considered the main livelihood strategy for small scale farmers in Zimbabwe. There is general scholarly consensus that the main cause of food insecurity in Zimbabwe is a decrease in smallholder agriculture productivity. The study revealed that poor infrastructure , limited access to credit, limited access to inputs, poor investment in human development, limited access to markets and harsh climatic conditions weaken the capacity of small scale farmers to improve food security. Key recommendations are that supportive institutions need to be put in place to strengthen the smallholder farmer’s capacity to improve food security in Zimbabwe.
Energy and sustainable development : the case of Dewedzo Rural community in Zimbabwe
(University of Fort Hare, 2014) Mbulayi, Shingirai Paul
Energy poverty is a concept that has gained significance quite recently. Its significance has been prompted by the realization that without sustainable modern energy alternatives for the rural poor, prospects for rural transformation remains low. The recognition of modern energy as one of the missing link in rural transformation comes amid the growing concern about the negative effects of relying on traditional energy services and the increasing forecasts that most developing countries are likely to miss their MDG targets by 2015. Drawing on the Modernization and the Sustainable Development Approach, this study concluded that improving the quantity and quality of energy services consumed by the rural poor can counteract rural underdevelopment and enhance rural social and economic transformation in Dewedzo. The study confirmed that energy poor households are prone to various social, economic and environmental detriments such as poor health, hunger, malnutrition, poor education and missed socio economic opportunities. By addressing rural people‟s energy needs, more nexus can be injected into rural productivity and the economic social outputs of this process can in turn increase the pace at which MDGs can be achieved.
Rethinking water service delivery system in Zimbabwe: a case study of Kwekwe municipality
(University of Fort Hare, 2010) Mupindu, Wiseman;
This study examines the perceived scarcity of household water service delivery in the city of Kwekwe under the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. Kwekwe Municipality appears to be characterized by an erratic supply of clean water for household use. The city of Kwekwe has experienced an unreliable domestic water service delivery system since the beginning of this millennium. This study aims to investigate the causes of the problem, its extent, impact and what could be done to mitigate the problem. The study employs interviews, questionnaires, observations and document analyses to establish that population growth, ageing equipment, a lack of foreign currency and local funding, as well as a lack of expertise and of political will have contributed to the poor domestic water supply in the city of Kwekwe. The city of Kwekwe needs to commit itself to improving the current situation by involving the community, constructing more storage facilities, and by putting monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place. The research design took the form of a case study of Kwekwe Municipality. A mixture of qualitative and quantitative research designs were used in this study. The qualitative/interpretivist approach was more dominant, allowing some overlapping with the quantitative/positivist paradigm whenever this was considered reasonable. The study sample consisted of a conveniently assembled sample of 120 respondents. The target population for the study comprised of 110 residents of Kwekwe urban and 10 Kwekwe City Municipality Water Authorities from the Works Department. This study focuses on the 4 residential areas of Kwekwe Municipality. The data collection instruments include questionnaires and focus group interviews. Electronically recorded, in-depth interviews were held with the water authorities and the consumers to establish their perceptions on the best practice of the water service delivery system in Zimbabwe. The data collection tools contained a preliminary section on the biological data of the respondents. All data was subjected to either qualitative or quantitative analysis techniques in order to strike a balance between the structured survey instruments and the anecdotes of the respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data was subjected to document analysis which entailed classifying the data, extracting themes, identifying patterns, tallying and quantifying responses and making generalizations out of these patterns. This implies that the research methodology focused on the method, tools and techniques used to assist in achieving the objectives of the study and answering the research questions that the research seeks to address. The term research methodology is used, in this study, to refer to the philosophical assumptions, values, and theories which inform and underpin the way in which a particular research method is used. In this study, the case study research design was used as the operational framework for data gathering. The case study research method is essentially grounded in the interpretive research paradigm. To this end, the study sought the perceptions of both the consumers and the water authorities. The major finding of the study is that the ability of Kwekwe Municipality to provide household water service delivery to its consumers is slightly below average. However, there was a slight improvement in the household water service delivery but consumers are still remaining dissatisfied. Another finding, related to this one, was that the electricity deficiency cost the efficacy of Kwekwe Municipality in its provision of household water service delivery. The study proposes that more studies which seek to interrogate the domestic water service delivery system of the Zimbabwean Municipalities should be embarked upon by the state. The study also recommends that service delivery training programmes be implemented in order to enhance the competence of the water authorities. Furthermore, the study suggests that consumers be placed at the center of household water debates when policies, rules and regulations of the water service delivery system are formulated. Finally, the study implores that municipalities need to have their own reserves and generators for emergency cases during electricity power cuts. It is imperative that the water reservoirs constantly hold 4 days‟ worth of water capacity. The municipality of Kwekwe must refurbish the entire water reticulation system. Municipalities must carry out an audit of water meter readings and also confirm that all water meters are functional. Manpower to read the correct meter reading should be increased in number and must have reliable transport.
An investigation into public works programmes as a poverty reduction strategy for rural Zimbabwe: a study on Gutu district
(University of Fort Hare, 2008) Zindoga, Blessing Josiah
has taken charge in most developing countries, unfavourable to the wellbeing of the less economically advantaged populations. Seemingly, Zimbabwe is not an exception to this development. Increasing concerns have been expressed about the effects of the several interventions aimed at poverty reduction in Zimbabwe, both from within and outside the country. The programmes and projects that have been devised to address poverty nationally and at local levels since 1980 have allocated vast amounts of resources and funding to different projects and initiatives. The nature of these initiatives have not demonstrated huge and resounding successes mostly because there have been serious shortcomings in their conceptualisation and implementation. Based on the social development theory that believes that the human being should be the centre of development, this paper conceived poverty as deprivation of means of securing necessities in life. This research focused on assessing why the contribution of Food-for-work and Cash-for-work (public works) programmes towards reducing vulnerability of households to the problems of food deprivation, unemployment, and social exclusion in making important decisions in life has not produced resounding results. This dissertation provides answers the problem and sub-questions based on both quantitative and qualitative data collected from a focus group discussion and a household questionnaire survey carried out in July-August 2008. From the discussions held it was established that, poverty in the Gutu District is strongly linked to a failure of productive agriculture and exclusion from formal or urban wage employment. The main conclusions are that the public works programme has neither brought all the benefits its proponents
The changing role of non-state actors’ relations in post apartheid South Africa: a case study of two Eastern Cape non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
(University of Fort Hare, 2016-08) Chirowamhangu, Raymond Farai
This study focused on the changing role of non-state actors’ political relations in post-apartheid South Africa. During the apartheid period, NGOs were considered to be pushing a people-centered agenda, but the transition to the post-apartheid era made the role of NGOs complex and debatable as they are now viewed as organisations that work hand in hand with the government. A qualitative research design was implemented to conduct the study, in particular, individual interviews. The respondents included local households, community leaders and NGO representatives. The selected NGOs which participated were World Vision, Africare, Phumalanga and Victim Support Center (VSC). This research was conducted in Nkonkobe Municipality, in the communities of Alice, Middledrift and Seymour. The major finding of the study is that the political role of the NGOs has changed. Whilst in the apartheid period the NGOs openly opposed the state, in the post-apartheid period NGOs find themselves providing development services to the state. In other words, in the post-apartheid period NGOs tend to co-operate with the state by acting as service providers for a variety of development related functions. This condition raises questions about the autonomy of the NGOs and the agenda they serve in the post-apartheid period.

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