Dr. Tafadzwa. C . Maramura | University of the Free State (original) (raw)
Papers by Dr. Tafadzwa. C . Maramura
Springer proceedings in business and economics, 2024
Today’s world is dominated by technology, and with the advent of Industry 4.0 (The 4th Industrial... more Today’s world is dominated by technology, and with the advent of Industry 4.0 (The 4th Industrial Revolution 4IR), it is critical to harness the power of technology. This research investigates the potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in advancing Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and robotics are among the 4IR technologies that can disrupt traditional industries and processes while promoting sustainability. This research looks at how 4IR technologies can help achieve the SDGs, their effects on sustainability, and the key challenges and opportunities that come with their implementation in the African continuum. To understand this dynamic, this study employs the Technology Acceptance Model to examine how and the extent to which achieving the study’s objective will culminate in promoting sustainable development in Africa. Consequently, the epistemological and ontological orientation of the research for this paper warranted a qualitative document based research approach, hinged on the grounded theory approach, wherein theory is constructed from qualitative data. The findings, which were extracted from thematic analysis, show the exciting prospects of 4IR technologies for sustainable development, with most 4IR technologies having been discovered to be used to support water, education, and health, among other industries. This study recommends the development of 4IR technologies that maximize the positive impact of 4IR on sustainable development while mitigating potential risks.
Water conservation and management, Jun 19, 2023
This study espouses the diverging interpretations on the essence and effectiveness of prepaid wat... more This study espouses the diverging interpretations on the essence and effectiveness of prepaid water meters with households who are explicitly citing that the tools do not effectively strike a balance between social parity and institutional sustainability in a failed state. 271 structured questionnaires were administered to Harare residents in enabling the provision of a measurement of the resident's perceptions regarding the water metering system metering system and descriptive statistical analysis was used to determine the results. Ten interviews were also conducted with key informants based on their expertise as the service providers. Two focus group discussions with two of the civil water organizations that are crucial catalysts between the Harare City Council and Harare residents were conducted. The findings of this study concluded that the effectiveness of prepaid water meters will only be successful with due reflection on all-encompassing stakeholder engagement and pro-poor approaches for sustainable service provision.
Water conservation and management, 2023
COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by ... more COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by exposing the high risk posed by the level of water service provision in South Africa. While post-apartheid reforms have improved access, ensuring equity in water service provision has remained a challenge. Therefore, this study examined factors affecting water governance and social equity in rural municipalities and reflects their effects on water service provision. The study adopted a qualitative case study research design and purposive sampling method. Focus group discussions, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews supported by document analysis were used to collect data. Findings revealed that socioeconomic, environmental, institutional, and governance factors highly affect water services resulting in a huge ruralurban gap. The paper concludes that achieving social equity in a society deeply entrenched with inequality, realising human rights, and achieving universal access to water calls for an integrated approach to sustainable development.
Corporate Practices: Policies, Methodologies, and Insights in Organizational Management, 2024
Today’s world is dominated by technology, and with the advent of Industry 4.0 (The 4th Industrial... more Today’s world is dominated by technology, and with the advent of Industry
4.0 (The 4th Industrial Revolution 4IR), it is critical to harness the power of technology. This research investigates the potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in advancing Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and robotics are among the 4IR technologies that can disrupt traditional industries and processes while promoting sustainability. This research looks at how 4IR technologies can help
achieve the SDGs, their effects on sustainability, and the key challenges and opportunities that come with their implementation in the African continuum. To understand this dynamic, this study employs the Technology Acceptance Model to examine how and the extent to which achieving the study’s objective will culminate in promoting sustainable development in Africa. Consequently, the epistemological and ontological orientation of the research for this paper warranted a qualitative document based research approach, hinged on the grounded theory approach, wherein theory is constructed from qualitative data. The findings, which were extracted from thematic analysis, show the exciting prospects of 4IR technologies for sustainable development, with most 4IR technologies having been discovered to be used to support water, education, and health, among other industries. This study recommends the development of 4IR technologies that maximize the positive impact of 4IR on sustainable
development while mitigating potential risks.
Water Conservation & Management (WCM), 2023
This study espouses the diverging interpretations on the essence and effectiveness of prepaid wat... more This study espouses the diverging interpretations on the essence and effectiveness of prepaid water meters with households who are explicitly citing that the tools do not effectively strike a balance between social parity and institutional sustainability in a failed state. 271 structured questionnaires were administered to Harare residents in enabling the provision of a measurement of the resident's perceptions regarding the water metering system metering system and descriptive statistical analysis was used to determine the results. Ten interviews were also conducted with key informants based on their expertise as the service providers. Two focus group discussions with two of the civil water organizations that are crucial catalysts between the Harare City Council and Harare residents were conducted. The findings of this study concluded that the effectiveness of prepaid water meters will only be successful with due reflection on all-encompassing stakeholder engagement and pro-poor approaches for sustainable service provision.
Water Conservation and Management 7(1):12-18, 2023
COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by ... more COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by exposing the high risk posed by the level of water service provision in South Africa. While post-apartheid reforms have improved access, ensuring equity in water service provision has remained a challenge. Therefore, this study examined factors affecting water governance and social equity in rural municipalities and reflects their effects on water service provision. The study adopted a qualitative case study research design and purposive sampling method. Focus group discussions, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews supported by document analysis were used to collect data. Findings revealed that socioeconomic, environmental, institutional, and governance factors highly affect water services resulting in a huge ruralurban gap. The paper concludes that achieving social equity in a society deeply entrenched with inequality, realising human rights, and achieving universal access to water calls for an integrated approach to sustainable development.
International Journal of Research In Business and Social Science, Mar 25, 2023
This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of C... more This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). All the participants recruited by the researcher were not forced to participate or sign the consent form. The researcher considered only voluntary participation and the participants were requested to sign the POPI Act consent forms before conducting the face-to-face interview. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology to get a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the challenges and effects of the procurement process. Information was collected from the key informants using Face-to-face interviews; the key informants were possible suppliers, chief executors, executors, and directors. Managers specializing in the procurement field and potential suppliers were chosen as respondents to obtain sentiments toward the procurement process. The study established that (DCS) is one of the national departments faced with the challenges of improving the procurement process. Hence the case study focuses on procurement process challenges for the improvement of the DCS. The study concluded that most of the fruitless, wasteful and irregular, and unauthorized expenditures incurred in DCS are caused by a lack of availability of resources such as employment finances and a lack of technology due to resistance to change from the top management to the lower level..
Journal of Human Ecology, Sep 1, 2016
This paper used a descriptive secondary study approach to explore the potential benefits the publ... more This paper used a descriptive secondary study approach to explore the potential benefits the public can enjoy from public private partnerships (PPPs) in the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH) in South Africa. The exploratory paper was enabled through an examination of the challenges being faced by the ECDoH. An understanding of these particular challenges facilitated the conception of appropriate PPP strategies that were adopted to ensure the provision of efficient health care services. Through the use of government statistics, annual progress reports, National Treasury reports and current existing academic literature, the paper concluded that there are different models of PPPs which can be harnessed for efficient basic primary health care delivery.
African Journal of Business and Economic Research, Sep 13, 2019
Purpose-This study aims to examine the impact of habitual Facebook use (HFU) on life satisfaction... more Purpose-This study aims to examine the impact of habitual Facebook use (HFU) on life satisfaction and psychological well-being. In addition, the study examined the impact of life satisfaction on psychological well-being. Moreover, the study investigates the impact of social safeness in moderating the relationship between HFU and life satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach-The study employed a quantitative survey design, using a sample of 261 Generation Y students based in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Scales for data collection were operationalized from prior studies. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings-The study's results disclosed that HFU positively and significantly impacts life satisfaction and psychological well-being. In addition, life satisfaction positively and significantly impacted psychological wellbeing. Moreover, the results showed that social safeness had a positive and significant moderating effect on the nexus between HFU and life satisfaction. Originality/value-This study contributes to understanding HFU as a precursor to life satisfaction and psychological well-being among Generation Y students. Also, evaluating the moderating effect of social safeness contributes to a more thorough understanding of the link between HFU and life satisfaction.
Alternation, Dec 1, 2022
Civic space constitutes the substratum for women to be able to organise, communicate and particip... more Civic space constitutes the substratum for women to be able to organise, communicate and participate in democratic processes, including claiming their rights, as well as influencing the trajectory of the political and socioeconomic structures around them. With the proliferation of the recognition and participation of women in political processes, their attempts to occupy the civic space have also intensified. While the civic space is theoretically open for women's civic participation, structural violence and cyber-violence have militated against women's civic space visibility. This has culminated in the shrinking of the civic space for women's articulation of political and socioeconomic issues; especially in the African context. Against this backdrop, the objective of this paper is to examine the constraints women in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe experience in operating in these spaces and the strategies they deploy to deal with these constrictions. Having said this, the paper intends to examine the manner in which physical, cyber and structural violence against Namibian, South African and Zimbabwean women manifests and affects their participation in civic spaces. Moreover, it Women and the Civic Space 245 explores the strategies deployed by women to counter the various forms of violence and other stumbling blocks inherent in the civic space. Data for this paper were generated from both primary and secondary sources and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
In recent years, most South African (SA) municipalities still need to produce clean audits. In 20... more In recent years, most South African (SA) municipalities still need to produce clean audits. In 2018 and 2019, most municipalities in SA needed better-quality financial statements and performance reports. Misrepresentation of financial statements in audit reports is linked to inadequate governance, misappropriation of public funds and poor public service delivery. It is upon this background that this study aimed to: (i) assess perceptions of municipality middle management employees on factors affecting auditing, (ii) evaluate the differences in perceptions among municipality middle management employees on factors affecting auditing, (iii) measure the effect of factors affecting auditing on overall clean audit and (iv) establish the effect of clean audit on service delivery at two municipalities in Mpumalanga province. Using a structured questionnaire, a quantitative descriptive approach methodology was employed to collect data from a minimum sample of 294 employees in the middle mana...
International Journal of Criminology and Sociology
This study explores theoretical contradictions with realism, regarding the actors or perpetrators... more This study explores theoretical contradictions with realism, regarding the actors or perpetrators of violence when explaining the causes of electoral violence in the Zimbabwean context. These perspectives can be divided into two contesting schools of thought. The first group is mainly made up of rational theories and holds the position that, autocratic governments use electoral violence as a way of influencing electoral outcome. The second position suggests that the weaker political party is the one responsible for electoral violence. This paper then, contributes to the ongoing debate on the causes of electoral violence by advancing the notion that electoral violence should not be seen based on one position but from a multifaceted position. This is because, neither of the two theoretical approaches are wrong but what differs is the context. This paper argues that the idealism of holding one position hinders policy analysis to electoral violence, monitoring and observing election process as it places either, the ruling party or the opposition party as a unit of analysis.
International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 2021
Persistent drought and economic collapse in Zimbabwe have seen most, if not all, rural women shif... more Persistent drought and economic collapse in Zimbabwe have seen most, if not all, rural women shifting from the receiving end to the giving end. Rural women have since initiated several livelihood activities to make ends meet, as they are the most vulnerable whenever they are left to look after children at home. The paper aims to examine rural livelihoods and how they contribute to economic production in Ward 5 of Bikita district. A mixed design in the form of a case study was employed in this study. Systematic random sampling was used to select 40 households, which provided data for the study out of 409 households in Ward 5. The study used questionnaires and semi-structured interviews as data collecting instruments. Several livelihood activities were noted in the ward including seasonal farming, gardening, community-based and money lending and saving schemes (fushai), informal trading, and petty trading as selling thatch grass and firewood, among others. However, climate change and ...
Africa and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 2021
Africa is emerging as a rapidly growing region, still facing major challenges, but with a potenti... more Africa is emerging as a rapidly growing region, still facing major challenges, but with a potential for significant progressa transformation that necessitates vigorous efforts in research and policy thinking. This book series focuses on three intricately related key aspects of modern-day Africa: economic, social and political development. Making use of recent theoretical and empirical advances, the series aims to provide fresh answers to Africa's development challenges. All the socio-political dimensions of today's Africa are incorporated as they unfold and new policy options are presented. The series aims to provide a broad and interactive forum of science at work for policymaking and to bring together African and international researchers and experts. The series welcomes monographs and contributed volumes for an academic and professional audience, as well as tightly edited conference proceedings. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, economic policy and trade, regional integration, labor market policies, demographic development, social issues, political economy and political systems, and environmental and energy issues. All titles in the series are peer-reviewed. The book series is indexed by Scopus.
Journal of African Foreign Affairs, 2020
It is undeniable that Africa’s under-development problems do not only emanate from the colonial l... more It is undeniable that Africa’s under-development problems do not only emanate from the colonial legacy, they are also exacerbated by global pressures that place unnecessary demands on African countries. Some of these demands relate to aid and loans from the global north to the south, such as the need for good governance reforms. The lack of political will and pragmatic leadership are some of the major contributors to bad governance in Africa. Though Africa’s problems includes poor leadership and resource mismanagement, the underdevelopment stems from misplaced priorities. The questions lie in the extent to which some of these problems are either a preservation of the African way of life or are importations. With the colonial spread and successive peripheralization of traditional African societies and organs of governance, it has become evident that it is difficult to westernize Africa and its institutions of supremacy such as “traditional leadership,” which still sway the socio-cultural practices of the people. Hence, the consequential annihilation of the role these traditional institutions play has added to the expurgation of the understanding and knowledge of how they operate. Thus, the quest for good governance in Africa as imposed by the west, which is a significant departure from Africanity, is as daunting as ever. This research employed content data analysis and the authors concluded that unless African countries overcome their lack of identity and economic dependence, good governance will not be stained for a long time on the continent.
Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 2016
Entrepreneurs hold the keys to rapid technological development by offering the means to creating ... more Entrepreneurs hold the keys to rapid technological development by offering the means to creating employment opportunities even in remote rural areas. Small entrepreneurs do not only provide livelihood for themselves, but they also create employment thereby easing up socio-economic tensions in an atmosphere where so many are deprived. This article introduces the concept of entrepreneurship and how it propagates development and advances human living conditions. The underlying assumption is that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has a causal effect on human livelihoods of rural entrepreneurs. Thus, a sturdy relationship exists between ICT and entrepreneurial development for rural entrepreneurial economic growth. In the same manner the Government of Zimbabwe commenced on a comprehensive policy framework in order to harness the power of ICT. Through a documentary review analysis, the paper envisages how ICT can sustain rural entrepreneurial development in Zimbabwe at a time ...
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of C... more This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). All the participants recruited by the researcher were not forced to participate or sign the consent form. The researcher considered only voluntary participation and the participants were requested to sign the POPI Act consent forms before conducting the face-to-face interview. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology to get a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the challenges and effects of the procurement process. Information was collected from the key informants using Face-to-face interviews; the key informants were possible suppliers, chief executors, executors, and directors. Managers specializing in the procurement field and potential suppliers were chosen as respondents to obtain sentiments toward the procurement process. The study established that (DCS) is one of the national departments faced with the challenges of improving the procu...
Cogent Business & Management
Journal of Culture and Values in Education
The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) adoption in South Africa in higher education institutions ... more The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) adoption in South Africa in higher education institutions (HEIs) has yet to be consistent. Despite the extensive literature on the possible contributions of technology to learners’ development, there is a lack of knowledge on barriers to the higher education sector's adoption of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) to support teaching and learning. The most highly ranked universities in South Africa have somewhat embraced the 4IR, representing only a fraction of the 26 public universities in the country. The study identified factors hindering the adoption and diffusion of 4IR technologies in South Africa’s HEIs. To address this knowledge gap, we relied on the diffusion of innovation theory as a guide. Using a qualitative approach, we collected data using documentary reviews and analyses of authoritative sources to conceptualise and contextualise 4IR. The findings revealed that 4IR adoption is not only about perceptions but is also influen...
Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies
Purpose This study aims to examine how couplepreneurs foster an entrepreneurial mindset in their ... more Purpose This study aims to examine how couplepreneurs foster an entrepreneurial mindset in their kids. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach with semi-structured interviews was used as the data collection technique. Narrative analysis was conducted on a sample of 20 couplepreneurs in Mthatha, South Africa. Findings Narratives of how couplepreneurs foster an entrepreneurial mindset in their kids included purchasing toys and games for kids that encourage entrepreneurship; competition and team activities among kids that are related to entrepreneurship; the piggy bank; encouraging kids to read entrepreneurial books; and kid entrepreneur showcases. Research limitations/implications Sample size challenges are a notable limitation, including research being conducted in only one province of South Africa. Caution is advised when attempting to generalise the results to other contexts. Practical implications Understanding the strategies used by couplepreneurs to instil an...
Springer proceedings in business and economics, 2024
Today’s world is dominated by technology, and with the advent of Industry 4.0 (The 4th Industrial... more Today’s world is dominated by technology, and with the advent of Industry 4.0 (The 4th Industrial Revolution 4IR), it is critical to harness the power of technology. This research investigates the potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in advancing Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and robotics are among the 4IR technologies that can disrupt traditional industries and processes while promoting sustainability. This research looks at how 4IR technologies can help achieve the SDGs, their effects on sustainability, and the key challenges and opportunities that come with their implementation in the African continuum. To understand this dynamic, this study employs the Technology Acceptance Model to examine how and the extent to which achieving the study’s objective will culminate in promoting sustainable development in Africa. Consequently, the epistemological and ontological orientation of the research for this paper warranted a qualitative document based research approach, hinged on the grounded theory approach, wherein theory is constructed from qualitative data. The findings, which were extracted from thematic analysis, show the exciting prospects of 4IR technologies for sustainable development, with most 4IR technologies having been discovered to be used to support water, education, and health, among other industries. This study recommends the development of 4IR technologies that maximize the positive impact of 4IR on sustainable development while mitigating potential risks.
Water conservation and management, Jun 19, 2023
This study espouses the diverging interpretations on the essence and effectiveness of prepaid wat... more This study espouses the diverging interpretations on the essence and effectiveness of prepaid water meters with households who are explicitly citing that the tools do not effectively strike a balance between social parity and institutional sustainability in a failed state. 271 structured questionnaires were administered to Harare residents in enabling the provision of a measurement of the resident's perceptions regarding the water metering system metering system and descriptive statistical analysis was used to determine the results. Ten interviews were also conducted with key informants based on their expertise as the service providers. Two focus group discussions with two of the civil water organizations that are crucial catalysts between the Harare City Council and Harare residents were conducted. The findings of this study concluded that the effectiveness of prepaid water meters will only be successful with due reflection on all-encompassing stakeholder engagement and pro-poor approaches for sustainable service provision.
Water conservation and management, 2023
COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by ... more COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by exposing the high risk posed by the level of water service provision in South Africa. While post-apartheid reforms have improved access, ensuring equity in water service provision has remained a challenge. Therefore, this study examined factors affecting water governance and social equity in rural municipalities and reflects their effects on water service provision. The study adopted a qualitative case study research design and purposive sampling method. Focus group discussions, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews supported by document analysis were used to collect data. Findings revealed that socioeconomic, environmental, institutional, and governance factors highly affect water services resulting in a huge ruralurban gap. The paper concludes that achieving social equity in a society deeply entrenched with inequality, realising human rights, and achieving universal access to water calls for an integrated approach to sustainable development.
Corporate Practices: Policies, Methodologies, and Insights in Organizational Management, 2024
Today’s world is dominated by technology, and with the advent of Industry 4.0 (The 4th Industrial... more Today’s world is dominated by technology, and with the advent of Industry
4.0 (The 4th Industrial Revolution 4IR), it is critical to harness the power of technology. This research investigates the potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in advancing Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and robotics are among the 4IR technologies that can disrupt traditional industries and processes while promoting sustainability. This research looks at how 4IR technologies can help
achieve the SDGs, their effects on sustainability, and the key challenges and opportunities that come with their implementation in the African continuum. To understand this dynamic, this study employs the Technology Acceptance Model to examine how and the extent to which achieving the study’s objective will culminate in promoting sustainable development in Africa. Consequently, the epistemological and ontological orientation of the research for this paper warranted a qualitative document based research approach, hinged on the grounded theory approach, wherein theory is constructed from qualitative data. The findings, which were extracted from thematic analysis, show the exciting prospects of 4IR technologies for sustainable development, with most 4IR technologies having been discovered to be used to support water, education, and health, among other industries. This study recommends the development of 4IR technologies that maximize the positive impact of 4IR on sustainable
development while mitigating potential risks.
Water Conservation & Management (WCM), 2023
This study espouses the diverging interpretations on the essence and effectiveness of prepaid wat... more This study espouses the diverging interpretations on the essence and effectiveness of prepaid water meters with households who are explicitly citing that the tools do not effectively strike a balance between social parity and institutional sustainability in a failed state. 271 structured questionnaires were administered to Harare residents in enabling the provision of a measurement of the resident's perceptions regarding the water metering system metering system and descriptive statistical analysis was used to determine the results. Ten interviews were also conducted with key informants based on their expertise as the service providers. Two focus group discussions with two of the civil water organizations that are crucial catalysts between the Harare City Council and Harare residents were conducted. The findings of this study concluded that the effectiveness of prepaid water meters will only be successful with due reflection on all-encompassing stakeholder engagement and pro-poor approaches for sustainable service provision.
Water Conservation and Management 7(1):12-18, 2023
COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by ... more COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by exposing the high risk posed by the level of water service provision in South Africa. While post-apartheid reforms have improved access, ensuring equity in water service provision has remained a challenge. Therefore, this study examined factors affecting water governance and social equity in rural municipalities and reflects their effects on water service provision. The study adopted a qualitative case study research design and purposive sampling method. Focus group discussions, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews supported by document analysis were used to collect data. Findings revealed that socioeconomic, environmental, institutional, and governance factors highly affect water services resulting in a huge ruralurban gap. The paper concludes that achieving social equity in a society deeply entrenched with inequality, realising human rights, and achieving universal access to water calls for an integrated approach to sustainable development.
International Journal of Research In Business and Social Science, Mar 25, 2023
This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of C... more This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). All the participants recruited by the researcher were not forced to participate or sign the consent form. The researcher considered only voluntary participation and the participants were requested to sign the POPI Act consent forms before conducting the face-to-face interview. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology to get a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the challenges and effects of the procurement process. Information was collected from the key informants using Face-to-face interviews; the key informants were possible suppliers, chief executors, executors, and directors. Managers specializing in the procurement field and potential suppliers were chosen as respondents to obtain sentiments toward the procurement process. The study established that (DCS) is one of the national departments faced with the challenges of improving the procurement process. Hence the case study focuses on procurement process challenges for the improvement of the DCS. The study concluded that most of the fruitless, wasteful and irregular, and unauthorized expenditures incurred in DCS are caused by a lack of availability of resources such as employment finances and a lack of technology due to resistance to change from the top management to the lower level..
Journal of Human Ecology, Sep 1, 2016
This paper used a descriptive secondary study approach to explore the potential benefits the publ... more This paper used a descriptive secondary study approach to explore the potential benefits the public can enjoy from public private partnerships (PPPs) in the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH) in South Africa. The exploratory paper was enabled through an examination of the challenges being faced by the ECDoH. An understanding of these particular challenges facilitated the conception of appropriate PPP strategies that were adopted to ensure the provision of efficient health care services. Through the use of government statistics, annual progress reports, National Treasury reports and current existing academic literature, the paper concluded that there are different models of PPPs which can be harnessed for efficient basic primary health care delivery.
African Journal of Business and Economic Research, Sep 13, 2019
Purpose-This study aims to examine the impact of habitual Facebook use (HFU) on life satisfaction... more Purpose-This study aims to examine the impact of habitual Facebook use (HFU) on life satisfaction and psychological well-being. In addition, the study examined the impact of life satisfaction on psychological well-being. Moreover, the study investigates the impact of social safeness in moderating the relationship between HFU and life satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach-The study employed a quantitative survey design, using a sample of 261 Generation Y students based in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Scales for data collection were operationalized from prior studies. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings-The study's results disclosed that HFU positively and significantly impacts life satisfaction and psychological well-being. In addition, life satisfaction positively and significantly impacted psychological wellbeing. Moreover, the results showed that social safeness had a positive and significant moderating effect on the nexus between HFU and life satisfaction. Originality/value-This study contributes to understanding HFU as a precursor to life satisfaction and psychological well-being among Generation Y students. Also, evaluating the moderating effect of social safeness contributes to a more thorough understanding of the link between HFU and life satisfaction.
Alternation, Dec 1, 2022
Civic space constitutes the substratum for women to be able to organise, communicate and particip... more Civic space constitutes the substratum for women to be able to organise, communicate and participate in democratic processes, including claiming their rights, as well as influencing the trajectory of the political and socioeconomic structures around them. With the proliferation of the recognition and participation of women in political processes, their attempts to occupy the civic space have also intensified. While the civic space is theoretically open for women's civic participation, structural violence and cyber-violence have militated against women's civic space visibility. This has culminated in the shrinking of the civic space for women's articulation of political and socioeconomic issues; especially in the African context. Against this backdrop, the objective of this paper is to examine the constraints women in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe experience in operating in these spaces and the strategies they deploy to deal with these constrictions. Having said this, the paper intends to examine the manner in which physical, cyber and structural violence against Namibian, South African and Zimbabwean women manifests and affects their participation in civic spaces. Moreover, it Women and the Civic Space 245 explores the strategies deployed by women to counter the various forms of violence and other stumbling blocks inherent in the civic space. Data for this paper were generated from both primary and secondary sources and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
In recent years, most South African (SA) municipalities still need to produce clean audits. In 20... more In recent years, most South African (SA) municipalities still need to produce clean audits. In 2018 and 2019, most municipalities in SA needed better-quality financial statements and performance reports. Misrepresentation of financial statements in audit reports is linked to inadequate governance, misappropriation of public funds and poor public service delivery. It is upon this background that this study aimed to: (i) assess perceptions of municipality middle management employees on factors affecting auditing, (ii) evaluate the differences in perceptions among municipality middle management employees on factors affecting auditing, (iii) measure the effect of factors affecting auditing on overall clean audit and (iv) establish the effect of clean audit on service delivery at two municipalities in Mpumalanga province. Using a structured questionnaire, a quantitative descriptive approach methodology was employed to collect data from a minimum sample of 294 employees in the middle mana...
International Journal of Criminology and Sociology
This study explores theoretical contradictions with realism, regarding the actors or perpetrators... more This study explores theoretical contradictions with realism, regarding the actors or perpetrators of violence when explaining the causes of electoral violence in the Zimbabwean context. These perspectives can be divided into two contesting schools of thought. The first group is mainly made up of rational theories and holds the position that, autocratic governments use electoral violence as a way of influencing electoral outcome. The second position suggests that the weaker political party is the one responsible for electoral violence. This paper then, contributes to the ongoing debate on the causes of electoral violence by advancing the notion that electoral violence should not be seen based on one position but from a multifaceted position. This is because, neither of the two theoretical approaches are wrong but what differs is the context. This paper argues that the idealism of holding one position hinders policy analysis to electoral violence, monitoring and observing election process as it places either, the ruling party or the opposition party as a unit of analysis.
International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 2021
Persistent drought and economic collapse in Zimbabwe have seen most, if not all, rural women shif... more Persistent drought and economic collapse in Zimbabwe have seen most, if not all, rural women shifting from the receiving end to the giving end. Rural women have since initiated several livelihood activities to make ends meet, as they are the most vulnerable whenever they are left to look after children at home. The paper aims to examine rural livelihoods and how they contribute to economic production in Ward 5 of Bikita district. A mixed design in the form of a case study was employed in this study. Systematic random sampling was used to select 40 households, which provided data for the study out of 409 households in Ward 5. The study used questionnaires and semi-structured interviews as data collecting instruments. Several livelihood activities were noted in the ward including seasonal farming, gardening, community-based and money lending and saving schemes (fushai), informal trading, and petty trading as selling thatch grass and firewood, among others. However, climate change and ...
Africa and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 2021
Africa is emerging as a rapidly growing region, still facing major challenges, but with a potenti... more Africa is emerging as a rapidly growing region, still facing major challenges, but with a potential for significant progressa transformation that necessitates vigorous efforts in research and policy thinking. This book series focuses on three intricately related key aspects of modern-day Africa: economic, social and political development. Making use of recent theoretical and empirical advances, the series aims to provide fresh answers to Africa's development challenges. All the socio-political dimensions of today's Africa are incorporated as they unfold and new policy options are presented. The series aims to provide a broad and interactive forum of science at work for policymaking and to bring together African and international researchers and experts. The series welcomes monographs and contributed volumes for an academic and professional audience, as well as tightly edited conference proceedings. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, economic policy and trade, regional integration, labor market policies, demographic development, social issues, political economy and political systems, and environmental and energy issues. All titles in the series are peer-reviewed. The book series is indexed by Scopus.
Journal of African Foreign Affairs, 2020
It is undeniable that Africa’s under-development problems do not only emanate from the colonial l... more It is undeniable that Africa’s under-development problems do not only emanate from the colonial legacy, they are also exacerbated by global pressures that place unnecessary demands on African countries. Some of these demands relate to aid and loans from the global north to the south, such as the need for good governance reforms. The lack of political will and pragmatic leadership are some of the major contributors to bad governance in Africa. Though Africa’s problems includes poor leadership and resource mismanagement, the underdevelopment stems from misplaced priorities. The questions lie in the extent to which some of these problems are either a preservation of the African way of life or are importations. With the colonial spread and successive peripheralization of traditional African societies and organs of governance, it has become evident that it is difficult to westernize Africa and its institutions of supremacy such as “traditional leadership,” which still sway the socio-cultural practices of the people. Hence, the consequential annihilation of the role these traditional institutions play has added to the expurgation of the understanding and knowledge of how they operate. Thus, the quest for good governance in Africa as imposed by the west, which is a significant departure from Africanity, is as daunting as ever. This research employed content data analysis and the authors concluded that unless African countries overcome their lack of identity and economic dependence, good governance will not be stained for a long time on the continent.
Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 2016
Entrepreneurs hold the keys to rapid technological development by offering the means to creating ... more Entrepreneurs hold the keys to rapid technological development by offering the means to creating employment opportunities even in remote rural areas. Small entrepreneurs do not only provide livelihood for themselves, but they also create employment thereby easing up socio-economic tensions in an atmosphere where so many are deprived. This article introduces the concept of entrepreneurship and how it propagates development and advances human living conditions. The underlying assumption is that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has a causal effect on human livelihoods of rural entrepreneurs. Thus, a sturdy relationship exists between ICT and entrepreneurial development for rural entrepreneurial economic growth. In the same manner the Government of Zimbabwe commenced on a comprehensive policy framework in order to harness the power of ICT. Through a documentary review analysis, the paper envisages how ICT can sustain rural entrepreneurial development in Zimbabwe at a time ...
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478)
This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of C... more This study aims to determine the procurement process challenges for improving the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). All the participants recruited by the researcher were not forced to participate or sign the consent form. The researcher considered only voluntary participation and the participants were requested to sign the POPI Act consent forms before conducting the face-to-face interview. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology to get a comprehensive and deeper understanding of the challenges and effects of the procurement process. Information was collected from the key informants using Face-to-face interviews; the key informants were possible suppliers, chief executors, executors, and directors. Managers specializing in the procurement field and potential suppliers were chosen as respondents to obtain sentiments toward the procurement process. The study established that (DCS) is one of the national departments faced with the challenges of improving the procu...
Cogent Business & Management
Journal of Culture and Values in Education
The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) adoption in South Africa in higher education institutions ... more The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) adoption in South Africa in higher education institutions (HEIs) has yet to be consistent. Despite the extensive literature on the possible contributions of technology to learners’ development, there is a lack of knowledge on barriers to the higher education sector's adoption of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) to support teaching and learning. The most highly ranked universities in South Africa have somewhat embraced the 4IR, representing only a fraction of the 26 public universities in the country. The study identified factors hindering the adoption and diffusion of 4IR technologies in South Africa’s HEIs. To address this knowledge gap, we relied on the diffusion of innovation theory as a guide. Using a qualitative approach, we collected data using documentary reviews and analyses of authoritative sources to conceptualise and contextualise 4IR. The findings revealed that 4IR adoption is not only about perceptions but is also influen...
Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies
Purpose This study aims to examine how couplepreneurs foster an entrepreneurial mindset in their ... more Purpose This study aims to examine how couplepreneurs foster an entrepreneurial mindset in their kids. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach with semi-structured interviews was used as the data collection technique. Narrative analysis was conducted on a sample of 20 couplepreneurs in Mthatha, South Africa. Findings Narratives of how couplepreneurs foster an entrepreneurial mindset in their kids included purchasing toys and games for kids that encourage entrepreneurship; competition and team activities among kids that are related to entrepreneurship; the piggy bank; encouraging kids to read entrepreneurial books; and kid entrepreneur showcases. Research limitations/implications Sample size challenges are a notable limitation, including research being conducted in only one province of South Africa. Caution is advised when attempting to generalise the results to other contexts. Practical implications Understanding the strategies used by couplepreneurs to instil an...
The 21st century has witnessed the downfall and failure to expand the potable water infrastructur... more The 21st century has witnessed the downfall and failure to expand the potable water infrastructural system by the public service in developing nations. Budgetary limitations have also been pressuring the public sector in developing nations to initiate other revenue accrual tools of service provision such as prepaid water meters to ensure sustainable cash-flow within the public service as a system. It is however unlikely that some of these prepaid water meters have not been solid solutions to the underlying challenges within the public service. The reason is that prepaid water meters fundamentally require a certain level of technical and financial capacity which the public sector in most developing nations is still struggling with. The implementation of prepaid water meters has also been contentious in Harare with residents citing that the meters are an impartial technology which is simply meant to benefit the service provider, whilst alienating the low-income households.
The study utilised the pragmatic research philosophy by means of connecting both qualitative and quantitative ontological and epistemological interpretations to address the research questions by using key-informant interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires. The study also used a document study to discuss prepaid water meter implementation in nine developing and developed nations in comprehending the efficacy of prepaid water meters for potable water provision in Harare. Resultantly, the study exposes that the prepaid water metering system is very commendable; however, its efficacy in implementation is still elusive in the Harare City Council. The study further concludes that prepaid water meters surely have the potential to efficiently deliver potable water, but they are certainly not a miracle panacea for the challenges underpinning the Harare City Council. Based on this exposition, the study ultimately proposes a framework for potable water provision and proffers recommendations and policy implications of prepaid water meters.