The Third Chimurenga:The discursive construction of exclusion through the land reform in Zimbabwe: Paper presented at the Faculty of Arts Land Reform Conference, 29-30 September 2017 at Midlands State University, Zvishavane Campus – Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s land reform marked a defining period in Zimbabwe’s history as a nation. Different scholars have alternatively referred to this period from the perspectives of crisis, nationalism or redress of historical [land] imbalances. The present research looks at the ways in which the state narratives about the land used language/discourse to reconfigure, among other things, national identities. It was a period whereby the hitherto liberation struggle mwana wevhu (‘son of the soil’) discourse was invoked and deployed in the discourse of ‘Othering’ which mainly separated the ‘Us’ (ZANU-PF) from the ‘Them’ (MDC/opposition). It was a period in which, by extension, the label of vatengesi (‘sell outs’) also became highlighted, thereby constituting defining ZANU PF slogans and graffiti that also became important discursive tools for discrimination. The study adopted a quasi-corpus linguistic approach in which songs, political jingles and slogans, the state and private media (The Herald and Daily News, respectively) were analysed. The study is couched in a conceptual framework that is mainly informed by the Critical Discourse Analysis and Cognitive Linguistics theoretical frameworks

Design of an Automated Powered Peanut Shelling Machine.

Groundnut is predominantly grown by communal farmers in Zimbabwe. The price of shelled kernel is approximately double that of pod. Hand shelling of peanuts is a time consuming and laborious process which is mostly used in the remote areas in Zimbabwe. Manual shelling of peanuts using “Manual Sheller’s†has been adopted to reduce the time invested in hand shelling. These machines have high defective rates of almost 50% which reduce the overall gain achieved by the farmer after harvesting. As a result, the need has risen to design an automated powered peanut Sheller machine automated using a Program Logic Controller and having a servomotor as its actuator to solve the high labour, huge amounts of time lost through shelling and the low efficiency of previous Sheller designs. First hand results were obtained in this project by determining the crushing force required to shell peanuts at approximately 10% moisture content. Regression models were then used to standardise these results to enhance accuracy. Shelling throughput, automatic gap adjustment, shelling efficiency, mechanical damage are some of the parameters used to determine the overall performance of the peanut Sheller. However exhaustive research on peanut engineering properties has to be done in future to lay out a foundation for improved future designs. On an overall note, this project includes the design and assembling of different components to come up with an environmentally friendly machine that meets the set objectives

Proportiones Perfectus Law and the Physics of the Golden Section

The proportiones perfectus law is introduced. Let . By definition, in the spectrum is a proportione perfectus. With so defined, for an arbitrary positive integer it is shown that there exists an integer sequence satisfying the quasi-geometric relation such that the arithmetic relation holds. The golden mean, designated becomes the most basic and fundamental of proportiones perfectus. New concepts to the study of the golden section are presented: chirality, number genetics and law of polarity, special numerical harmony, and chemical geometry. A geometrical basis for the fine-structure constant in the golden section is established. Our stating of over forty theorems in this reading serves no other purpose than that of expanding the theory of the golden section while equipping the interested reader with instruments for further research and development of this science of number

Evaluating the water quality within the reticulation system of Kwekwe municipality during the dry and wet seasons

The research sought to evaluate the water quality within the reticulation system of Kwekwe municipality during the dry and wet seasons and to measure the water quality parameters such as pH, turbidity, total coliforms, free and combined chlorine from the source, final stage of treatment and throughout the distribution system. It also had to consider how distance from one sampling point to another affect the quality of water. It had to consider measurement, the water treatment process, causes for poor water quality as well as desired international standards of World and Health Organisation, (WHO). Data was collected from nine different sampling points including schools, clinics, residential areas of Mbizo and Amaveni, Dutchman Pool Waterworks formerly known as Sebakwe Treatment Works as well as dam water. The data was collected in January and February 2016 representing wet season as well as in May and June 2016 representing dry season. Laboratory tests were conducted in order to analyse the quality of water at the different sampling sites. For statistical analysis both one way and two way ANOVA were used. Regression analysis was done to establish a relationship between water quality parameters and distance

An investigation into pricing strategies on financial performance: a case study of Old Mutual property

The study is about an investigation into pricing strategies at Old Mutual Property. Although the company initiated pricing strategies, the number of credit losses and voids continued to increase, this therefore impelled the researcher to undertake a research into pricing strategies on financial performance. A case study approach was employed with the use of interviews and questionnaires as research instruments. The gathered data was presented on tables, graphs and pie charts and was analysed with the use of mode, while interviews were summarized. Major findings revealed that the current pricing strategy used within OMP was not effective in the current environment, which resulted in it passing unfair rental costs and this caused tenants to move out of the firm’s property thus increasing the number of voids consequently reducing revenue. The current pricing strategy also increased credit losses as tenants terminated leases at the middle of contract periods thus also reducing revenue for the company .Theoretical views from scholars, authors and journals as well as findings were used by the researcher to provide recommendations. The researcher recommended Old Mutual Property to use strategic pricing when pricing its rental space as it is the one suitable in the current economy of Zimbabwe. Strategic pricing maintains market share, reduces number of voids and controls credit losses thereby increasing revenue. Further research can be done on other aspects that causes revenue to decline in property companies, like the impact of lease contracts on financial performance

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S RESPONSE TO POST DEATH RITUALS IN MUSAMI, 1980 – 2008: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES,The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe has addressed indigenous post-death rites to varying depth and scope.This study examined the extent to which the Catholic Church in Musami, Zimbabwe has succeeded in implementing inculturation. It interrogates the Catholic Church’s response to post-death rituals in Musami. The study established that Musami Christians have been generally dissatisfied with some inherited ways of doing theology. As a response, Musami Catholics used contemporary contextualized, culturally-based approaches to post-death rituals, which started where people were.To put the Musami inculturation debate into its proper context, the study traced the debate on inculturation among the Catholics in Zimbabwe. It also explored the historical context within which the Musami Mission developed. A detailed description of the St. Paul’s Musami Mission Memorial Shrine is provided in this study. The study noted difficulties bedeviling efforts to analyse the growth of adaptation of traditional culture by making indigenous after-death rituals more meaningful to African Catholics, by analysing the tension between the Catholic traditional faith and Shona post-death rituals. In order to find out the extent of inculturation implemented in Musami, questionnaires were sent to the Catholic and to non-Catholic population. Structured one-on-one interviews and focus groupdiscussions were conducted. An analysis of the data showed the need for the Catholic Church to identify theological imperatives, non-essentials, as well as to be creative in its approach to inculturation. In order to have a more contextualized understanding of inculturation in Musami, the study provided an overview of approaches to inculturation in other denominations. Given women’s greater vulnerability to post-death rituals in indigenous cultures, the study addresses the question of the status of women in the debate on inculturation. The debate recommends effective catechism, upgrading of theological training, the establishment of a Theological Commission and a serious commitment to address inculturation. The study concludes that there is need for doctrinal re-orientation to bring about religious behavioural change and transformation of indigenous Christians through the teaching of Christian doctrine in an organic and systematic way involving pragmatic inculturation

An assessment of the girl child participation in science subjects at advanced level with the introduction of the stem initiative: a case study of Glen View suburb schools.

The development discourse has proved beyond doubt that there is no development that we can talk about if it is still discriminating or marginalizing some groups of the society especially women and the girl child. Because of this, this document seeks to assess and analyze the extent to which the girl child is participating in science subjects at advanced level in Zimbabwe concentrating on the period starting 2016 when the STEM Initiative was introduced as a measure to promote a science-based economy and industrialization. It looks into similar situations from other nations that have also implemented the STEM Initiative, and make comparisons and distinctions from them. Case studies of Glen View 1 High and Glen View 2 High Schools from Glen View-Mufakose District of Harare Metropolitan Province were used in the research. Data was collected, Causes of the disparities were uncovered through interviews, questionnaires and observations and at the end conclusions and recommendations were made. This was all done in a bid to try and expose barriers to complete girl child emancipation through science education as well as to put forward measures that will help to encourage them to participate in science subjects, a step towards gender equality and national development inclusive of the girl-child

An assessment of the challenges facing opposition political parties in Zimbabwe to consolidate political power since independence (1980): case study, movement for democratic change (MDC-T).

This research was an assessment of the challenges that have bedeviled the success of the opposition political parties in Zimbabwe since independence (1980). Despite looking at the general context of opposition political parties, much reference has been made to the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan R. Tsvangirai (MDC-T) that came into the political lime light in the year 1999. Theories played a pivotal role in articulating the challenges. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed to amass information. The target population was the opposition political leaders, their supporters as well as general populace. About twenty (20) interviews were conducted where many respondents lamented on the degree of violence, intimidation and corruption ZANU PF is employing and the researcher at times made the use of native languages thus mainly Shona and Ndebele in interpretation of questions. These techniques helped the researcher in the sense that people were able to clearly express their mixed feeling without the barrier of language limitation. In some circumstance the researcher made use of interpreters to translate on his behalf on the Ndebele language. The information provided in this work made use of the theoretical models that replicates challenges facing opposition political parties. The researcher made use of tables and piecharts in presenting findings, and the information was analyzed and then summarized. The information gathered elaborated that though most of these challenges are as a result of external forces, some of these challenges facing opposition political are also self-inflicted. As a result the researcher had to proffer recommendations on what the opposition political parties should undertake like revolting attending national events such as the independence celebrations and heroes commemorations to address these challenges they are facing since the political independence of Zimbabwe in 1980 to date in order for them be able to improve how they handle their issues in a bid to attain political power

An exploration of the nature of relationship that exists between the surviving HIV positive spouses and their significant others at Gaths Mine in Masvingo Province.

The relationship that exists between a surviving HIV positive spouse and their significant other has an impact on the well being and nature of life style the surviving spouses will led. A supportive relationship empowers surviving spouses to lead a positive and full life surrounded by loved ones. The study sought to explore of the nature of relationship that exists between the surviving HIV positive spouses and their significant others at Gaths Mine in Masvingo Province The surviving spouse’s positive status seems to have an effect on the nature of relationships that exist between them and their significant others especially in young men and women. Reports have increased from spouses experiencing unfair treatment and injustice in their home setting soon after losing their loved one. An interpretivist phenomenological research approach under qualitative approach was employed which allowed the researcher to dig deep on the experiences of the HIV positive surviving spouses. The target population for this research were HIV positive widows and widowers who lost their loved ones to the pandemic and utilised the outpatient services at the Gates Mine hospital. The sample was drawn through homogeneous purposive sampling .Sixteen participants who were both male and female were selected. A semi structured interview guide was the tool of choice in carrying out the study. Findings from the study uncovered that during their married life, knowledge about their HIV status came about as a result of an event such as illness or a partner testing positive for HIV. There was diversity in the experience of the spouses that lived in sero-positive and sero-discordant relationships during their married life. Intimacy and Disclosure to significant others and children proved to be one of the challenges faced. After the death of a spouse, findings indicated that Blame and shame were amongst the most prominent emotions that were felt. Perceptions of stigma and anticipated discrimination affected how surviving spouses related with other at the funeral as well as long after the death of a loved one. The most prominent explanation of the findings from the study illustrate that social support is an important aspect to surviving spouses especially those with children and living through difficulty and financial trouble. Based on all this evidence the researcher concluded that both partners needed to elevate communication on their problems, integrating their significant other into knowing their statuses. This approach would allow them to stand by each other before death interfered with their lives. This level of interaction allowed the significant others to acknowledge and accept their conditions simultaneously reducing chances of blame, guilt and shame if one of the partners passed away