Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://50.6.193.137:4000/handle/123456789/105

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Land, Agriculture, and Struggles for Belonging in Colonial Zimbabwe: A Case of Buhera, 1960-1970.
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Hazvineyi Lloyd; Marizane Antonio Santos
The article explores the dynamics of belonging in Zimbabwe using the belonging matrix. The study uses the case of the Gwebu area in the Sabi Reserve and covers the period between 1960 and 1970. The Gwebu area of the Sabi Reserve was home to a community of descendants of Ndebele migrants who migrated to the area in 1925. This group was led by Chief Daniel Fish Gwebu, and this resulted in the whole community being referred to as the Gwebu people. The study uses agriculture as a lens to explore various dynamics of belonging during the period between 1960 and 1970. Carefully balancing oral traditions and documentary evidence, the study sets off by identifying the agricultural prowess of the Gwebu Ndebele speakers as one of the major factors that allowed them to establish a semblance of independence from their neighbouring Shona speaking chieftaincies; the Makumbe (also known as the Njanja), as well as the Nyashanu. It also argues that the agricultural prowess of the Gwebu Ndebele people was a result of several historical factors. One such factor given special emphasis in this study is the evident historical interactions between white commercial farmers and the Gwebu people. These connections are traced back to the early years of settler rule in the Matabeleland region of the then Rhodesia colony. The study concludes by arguing that the agricultural success of the Gwebu people over the neighbouring Shona enabled them to build a Ndebele enclave, an aspect that allowed them to sustain their sense of particularism over time.
Restorative discipline practices: an action research project in three Harare primary schools
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Harris Geoff
Traditionally, Zimbabwe’s teachers have used punitive measures to maintain discipline within schools. However, the global movement against human rights violations associated with corporal punishment caused the country’s Ministry of Education to advocate non-punitive approaches but provided little by way of detail or support. In three primary schools in Harare, teachers were trained in two restorative justice alternatives - peacemaking circles and peer mediation – which they used with 9 to 10-year-old learners between March and October 2016. On average, the learners had bi-weekly opportunities through the circles to tell their peers and teachers what they were experiencing and feeling, and peer mediators had an opportunity to mediate in conflicts affecting their age mates. Outcomes were assessed using interviews with teachers before and after the intervention, and thematic content analysis was employed to analyse the data. In terms of outcomes, peacemaking circles enabled teachers to get to know their students and to respond pre-emptively to potential problems, while peer mediation led to a fall in the number and intensity of playground conflicts. The study shows that such restorative practices can be a promising way of addressing school discipline issues.
Critical analysis of the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion as instituted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Chinama Tauya; Muzondo Edward
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the first instrument of the resort to address human rights and entitlements comprehensively. Other human rights instruments later adopted, cited it as a precedent. This paper uses an Interpretive Phenomenology Analysis (IPA); it is an approach to qualitative research with an idiographic focus and aims to offer insights into how a given person, in each context, makes sense of a given phenomenon. It has its theoretical origins in phenomenology and hermeneutics, and key ideas from Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. For the purposes of this paper, only literature sources were used to substantiate the argument. A key conclusion of this paper is that religious intolerance forms the basis of much other intolerance which could lead to human rights abuses, ideological polarization, lawlessness, homophobia, bigotry, tribalism, and hate speech.
The State of Children’s Rights and Initiatives to Protect Them in Zimbabwe
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Nyadombo Annah Theresa; Zinyemba Ranga
This paper argues that Zimbabwe has adequate legislation (local and international) to deliver and protect children’s rights, but that what is lacking is putting such legislation into practice.
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.
Evaluation of the state and causes of ineffective leadership in Africa
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Nemashakwe Paul
Even though Africa is the richest continent in terms of natural resources, it is arguably the poorest in terms of development. The protracted economic challenges experienced around the continent have sometimes led to social unrest which has unfortunately given birth to migration with sometimes unintended consequences such as xenophobic attacks and people drowning while trying to reach Europe. For some time now scholars and policymakers have been trying to unravel the quagmire of Africa’s problems without palpable success. With over sixty years since the first African country gained independence, effective and sound leadership continues to be evasive around the continent with a few notable exceptions. The study sought to find out who was responsible for the dearth of leadership prevalent on the continent. A secondary (desk) research was conducted focusing on all the 54 countries on the continent. The study found that although the continent should shoulder much of the blame for poor leadership, colonialism, post-colonial exploitation, and white monopoly capital cannot be absolved. Africa requires leaders who are not afraid to speak their minds and take bold, difficult, and unpopular decisions. The continent should shed the unfortunate tag of being a net importer of leadership theory and practice by developing African leadership based on the principles of ubuntu.
Gender-based violence in Things Fall Apart
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Lunga Majahana
A cursory reading of Things Falls Apart has resulted in some analysists labelling this novel sexist. The main purpose of this article is to argue that, on the contrary, a close reading of Things Fall Apart shows that women are depicted as revered stakeholders with significant religious, economic, cultural, and political roles. This is despite the patrilineal and patriarchal stratification of the traditional pre-colonial and colonial village life portrayed in this novel. The feminine principle is in firm control of the entire social fabric. Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves is undoubtedly the most potent god, but he is only a messenger of Ani, the Earth Goddess, the owner of the land, and the ultimate judge of all morality. Chika and Chielo, Agbala’s priestesses, are also immensely powerful women. Okonkwo, the flawed hero of the novel, is a conceited, single-minded man whose excesses do not represent Igbo values. The crimes he commits are most offensive to Ani. Things Fall Apart is thus exonerated from being sexist.
Enhancing Industrialisation and Modernisation in Universities in Zimbabwe
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Kwandayi Hardson
This paper outlines cardinal facets of industrialisation and modernisation which the Government of Zimbabwe launched as a higher education strategy for national development through institutions of higher learning. The paper recommends several strategies universities in Zimbabwe can use to advance industrialisation and modernisation. One of the key strategies is that universities should embrace other stakeholders that include schools and colleges as well as the private sector. As part of this process, local universities are also expected to modernise themselves by providing quality and relevant education
The Use of Mobile Computing in Technical and Vocational Education Institutions
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Maguraushe Kudakwashe; Maketa Paul
Impact of Entrepreneurial Activities on Employment Creation:
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Nyathi Lawrence Dumisani
The government is struggling to look for solutions to the unemployment challenge and one approach has been the promotion of self-employment through entrepreneurship. From 2000 onwards capacity utilization has been shrinking resulting in colossal retrenchments both in the private and public sectors. As a result, most of both skilled and unskilled labour in underperforming economies survive on informal sector activities. Therefore, the paper investigated the impact of entrepreneurship activities on employment creation, a case study of Gweru Central Business District. Descriptive design was employed to collect data using an open-ended questionnaire and it was supported by the purposive sampling technique. The sample consisted of 350 people out of the entrepreneurs in Gweru urban. Data was collected using an open-ended questionnaire. The study revealed that entrepreneurship activities create employment and contributed significantly to the development of the Zimbabwean economy. Nonetheless, entrepreneurs are constrained in their maneuvers because of a lack of financial support and infrastructure. Given their significance to the economy, the paper suggests that these businesses should be assisted by the relevant stakeholders to graduate from the informal to the formal sector. This will boost rapid economic growth.
The Impact of Service Quality On Customer Loyalty To CIMAS In Zimbabwe
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Zinyemba A; Chabikisa L
This paper presents the findings of a study carried out to assess the impact of service quality on customer loyalty to medical aid service providers based on a case study by the Cimas Medical Aid Society. The study employed a mixed-methods approach to research applying both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The population sample was drawn from the University of Zimbabwe employees and students who are registered with Cimas through the society’s open fund local packages. The research findings showed that members are satisfied with the services they are getting from the society. Most of the members are not willing to switch from Cimas to another medical aid service provider. Most of the members seem to be dissatisfied about incurring shortfalls and the fact that they are sometimes made to pay cash upfront by medical services providers before they can be attended to. The study recommends that Cimas should eliminate the issue of shortfalls and cash up-fronts. Communication with members and customer care are areas that Cimas should improve upon. The society should expand its healthcare facilities in Harare to the Central Business district to ease congestion on existing facilities. It should also extend its services to small towns and rural areas. Cimas should also engage in loyalty programs to retain its customers and gain more market share. Such programmes could include sponsorships at tertiary institutions like universities.
Psychology of witchcraft among the Shona people Myth and Reality:
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2021-11) Zvaiwa Andreas
Bikita is one of the 59 districts in Zimbabwe. The district lies 80 km East of the town of Masvingo. It has a considerable number of ethnic groups, but the Shona are predominant. The Shona nowadays is no longer a single cultural group but a mixture of other cultural groups that have moved into the district. This study will be on the Psychology of Witchcraft among the Shona people in that district. It will be argued that witchcraft is a well-known practice across cultures in the history of mankind and that the practice can be explained through the Freudian and Jungian theories of the Psyche whereby witches operate in the unconscious area of the psyche. The paper rejects the idea that witchcraft is a moral issue and suggests that it is a psychological issue. Because of the current Covid -19 pandemic, it has been difficult to carry out on-the-spot interviews, so most of the information was collected through telephone interviews using a mobile phone. In a few instances, however, the researcher had the chance to witness activities that were deemed to be witchcraft.
Critical analysis of the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion as instituted in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
(The Fountain – Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2022-08-04) Chinama Tauya; Muzondo Edward
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the first instrument of the resort to address human rights and entitlements comprehensively. Other human rights instruments later adopted, cited it as a precedent. This paper uses an Interpretive Phenomenology Analysis (IPA); it is an approach to qualitative research with an idiographic focus and aims to offer insights into how a given person, in each context, makes sense of a given phenomenon. It has its theoretical origins in phenomenology and hermeneutics, and key ideas from Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. For the purposes of this paper, only literature sources were used to substantiate the argument. A key conclusion of this paper is that religious intolerance forms the basis of much other intolerance which could lead to human rights abuses, ideological polarization, lawlessness, homophobia, bigotry, tribalism, and hate speech.