Browsing by Author "Musasa Tapiwa."

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Indigenous knowledge systems in nembudziya
(African Journal of Intellectual Property, 2019-06-02) Musasa Tapiwa.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) have been considered backward and primitive in most sectors particularly those to do with modern development. The knowledge remains disputed and contested. While some scholars acknowledge its existence and usefulness, some have contested it as minor, raw, not easy to generalise, private and not applicable for large scale development interventions. As a result, this body of knowledge is threatened by extinction since only a few local people in rural areas remain its custodians. Its inclusion in the school curriculum has been on a low level in Zimbabwe and Africa. However, some institutions of higher learning have recognised its significance and efforts and milestones are being made in research. This article is asserting and confirming the validity of African IKS as an essential body of knowledge which still needs promotion, development and recognition as traditional knowledge which has helped in the conservation of forests, prevented soil degradation and promoted development and resilience of ecosystems. Some of the possible threats and challenges which may lead to the demise of this critical body of knowledge have also been explored.
Poverty and inequality in Zimbabwean cities
(Joppa, 2021-01-01) Musasa Tapiwa.
While poverty has always been viewed as a prominent characteristic of the rural areas, it is also a reality for a lot of people in cities in the world, more so in Third World countries. In Zimbabwe 33 percent of the total population resides in urban areas and cities while the majority is in the rural areas. This article argues that there are very slim chances of reducing the inequality gap found in Zimbabwean cities since the rich continue to have an advantage over the poor as there is no effort to create programmes to effectively redistribute the wealth and the means of production like land and minerals. The influential, the powerful and the well-connected people in the large cities continue to dominate even those programmes meant for the poor, for example scholarships, farming equipment, land and mining rights, making the chance of equity and equality an illusion for the urban poor. Recommendations are therefore made that the decision makers and policy makers should be inclusive in policy formulation to include the poor at planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages so that lessons can be drawn from previous policies and improvements made for the benefit of the urban poor and reduction of inequality in cities. A comparative analysis will be made between the standards of living for people in Mbare a high density low income community and Glen Lorne, a low density residential area in Harare.
The state of food security in Zimbabwe
(Joppa, 2021-06-02) Musasa Tapiwa.
The international community has given priority to food security issues by including in Agenda 2030, goal number 2 (zero hunger) and closely related are goal number 1 and 6 alluding to ending poverty and ensuring clean water and sanitation respectively. This article discusses the four main dimensions of food security which are accessibility, availability, stability and utilisation, as well as giving a SWOT analysis on the conditions of food security in the country. At the moment, food security in Zimbabwe is in a deplorable state. This article argues that Zimbabwe can feed Zimbabwe if the available resources are fully utilised. The article examines the state of food security in Zimbabwe, giving a highlight on the challenges and threats the country is facing in terms of food security as well as the options and opportunities which can be explored for the benefit of the general populace. Through desk research, interviews and focus group discussions with various key stakeholders, the key findings are that there is lack of coordination in the allocation of agricultural inputs as well as lack of monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes meant for food production in the country. Some recommendations are made that Zimbabwe has to treat the issue of food security with the urgency and attention it deserves and increase the land under irrigation, as well as allocate productive resources like land, knowledge and inputs to the rightful people with the talent, will and ability to put the resources to use for the benefit of the whole nation not for recognition, honour or status when the national silos are empty.
The Usefulness of Indigenous Plants and Vegetables in contemporary Society.
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Musasa Tapiwa.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) is tacit knowledge available to local people of any community which can be used in all sectors of life and development. This knowledge is passed from generation to generation through oral tradition, song, and dance. The invasion of traditional societies through colonization, modernization, and globalization has threatened the resilience of IKS and some literature argues that it is being driven into extinction. This paper argues that Indigenous knowledge Systems are undeniably resistant and resilient as evidenced by the continuous inevitable use of indigenous plant varieties in Africa and the rest of the world during outbreaks of pandemics like COVID-19 and even use in the day-to-day treatment of humans and domestic animals. Using individual telephone interviews, a teleconference focus group with rural and urban key informants from Chirumanzu District, Gokwe District, and Harare North low density residential area, the paper discovered twenty-four (24) indigenous plant varieties, 5 non-indigenous plants, and 5 indigenous vegetables which people are using to improve health systems and strengthens the lungs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The same plant varieties have been used in everyday life even before the outbreak of the current pandemic, indicating their undeniable usefulness in the lives of people. The paper, therefore, recommends that more research should be done and literature should be written on the role of these different plant varieties so that the knowledge is kept safe and readily available for future generations. Documentation is very critical as a migratory measure against the extinction of the crucial role of indigenous knowledge systems.