Women as agents of peace in the Midlands Province, Zimbabwe

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.

Download Full-text

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

International Journal of Sport Exercise and Health Research ◽

10.31254/sportmed.3105 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 19-23

Author(s):

Nemerai Pedzisai ◽

◽

Edmore Nhamo ◽

Simbarashe Magonde ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Research ◽

Survey Design ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

Total Sample ◽

Research Approach ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Football Clubs ◽

Entry Points ◽

Midlands Province ◽

Spectator Violence

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

Download Full-text

The contribution of small-scale rural irrigation schemes towards food security of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies ◽

10.4102/jamba.v11i1.674 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Smart Mhembwe ◽

Newman Chiunya ◽

Ernest Dube

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Small Scale ◽

Security Challenges ◽

The Status ◽

Midlands Province ◽

Observation Method ◽

Effective Use ◽

Small Scale Irrigation

Smallholder farmers across Zimbabwe have been facing a problem of food insecurity because of climate-induced droughts and lack of effective use of irrigation schemes. Rainfall patterns in the country have become more unpredictable and inconsistent with the traditional farming seasons. Faced with such challenges, many smallholder farmers in Shurugwi district in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe adopted small-scale irrigation schemes to improve food security. The principal objectives of this study were to examine the status of the irrigation schemes in the district; analyse the need to rehabilitate small-scale irrigation schemes; assess the initiatives towards the revival of irrigation schemes; establish the benefits that can accrue to smallholder farmers from small-scale irrigation schemes and discuss challenges faced by smallholder farmers in the running of small-scale irrigation schemes in rural areas. This qualitative study employed literature and interviews to obtain data from 40 purposively selected participants. The direct observation method was used to compliment the interviews. The findings of the study were that small-scale rural irrigation schemes have the capacity to significantly transform the lives of rural farmers through earning increased reliable income from farming if institutional and capacity issues of the farmers are addressed. Furthermore, the study found that small-scale irrigation schemes can also be a panacea to food security challenges mainly faced by rural households. As such, the article concluded that irrigation schemes are fortress and antidote to the effects of climate change. The study calls for capacity promotion on technical skills for the farmers, the establishment of many new irrigation schemes and the rehabilitation of the existing small-scale irrigation schemes in the country as well as calling on the farmers to adopt climate-smart irrigation.

Download Full-text

Quality assurance in a rehabilitation service

South African Journal of Physiotherapy ◽

10.4102/sajp.v57i1.488 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 57 (1) ◽

pp. 7-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H. Myezwa ◽

V. R. P. M'kumbuzi ◽

F. Mhuri

Keyword(s):

Quality Assurance ◽

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Service Providers ◽

Linear Increase ◽

Rehabilitation Service ◽

Clinical Documentation ◽

Measuring Instrument ◽

Rehabilitation Outcomes ◽

Midlands Province ◽

One Year

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate a Quality Assurance (QA) programme for use by nine rehabilitation departments in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe.Methodology: A participatory methodology was implemented to:1. Define and implement the parameters of quality for a rehabilitation service.2. Design standardised assessment forms for the different conditions managed.3. Develop, pilot and evaluate a QA measuring instrument to use in defining the QA profile of a rehabilitation service, and4. Determine patient satisfaction with the rehabilitation service. Administering a simple questionnaire, whose design was based on the Zimbabwe Patients Charter, accomplished this.Results: The process of developing, implementing and evaluation of the QA programme took six years. One year after implementation of the QA, all (J00%) patients coming into contact with the service had a rehabilitation record. The QA profile for the Midlands province rose from 55% in 1994 to a record high of 92.1% in 1998, and 89.4% in 1999. The patient satisfaction profile for each indicator also demonstrated a linear increase with areas such as satisfaction with service rising from 86% in 1997 to 100% in 2000, and satisfaction with benefit from the service rising from 76.6% in 1997 to 100% in 2000. Other qualitative benefits not depicted by the QA measuring instrument or the patient satisfaction instrument, but which were observed and expressed by rehabilitation staff as measures of success of the QA programme are discussed.Conclusion: This paper concludes that significant improvements in clinical documentation arising from the QA programme, translated to an overall increase in the service providers’ professional skills and knowledge base, and ultimately rehabilitation outcomes. The success of this process is attributed to its participatory and empowering nature.

Download Full-text