Digital design and technology and market outreach in rural Zimbabwe

Despite producing top of the range products and services, entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe's rural Gokwe face limited access to markets. Access to local and regional trading markets is further aggravated by inadequate technological infrastructure and financial resources to carry out business activities. Aim: This article investigates the role of digital design and technology in expanding market outreach in Zimbabwe. Methods: A mixed methods research design was adopted. The qualitative data, obtained from semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion, was analysed through thematic analysis. The quantitative data was obtained from the administration of a questionnaire and used to corroborate the findings of the qualitative tool. Results: The findings revealed that while digital design and technology had little effect on identifying entrepreneurial opportunities and communicating with potential customers in Gokwe, there were clear signs that plans were being made to integrate digital technology and internet connectivity in at least one sector of the rural economy of the district. Implications: The findings may provide vital information for rural entrepreneurs and policymakers looking to benefit from the digital revolution. Recommendation: The paper encourages the use of digital marketing and advertising to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities

Digital design and technology and market outreach in rural Zimbabwe

Despite producing top of the range products and services, entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe's rural Gokwe face limited access to markets. Access to local and regional trading markets is further aggravated by inadequate technological infrastructure and financial resources to carry out business activities. Aim: This article investigates the role of digital design and technology in expanding market outreach in Zimbabwe. Methods: A mixed methods research design was adopted. The qualitative data, obtained from semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion, was analysed through thematic analysis. The quantitative data was obtained from the administration of a questionnaire and used to corroborate the findings of the qualitative tool. Results: The findings revealed that while digital design and technology had little effect on identifying entrepreneurial opportunities and communicating with potential customers in Gokwe, there were clear signs that plans were being made to integrate digital technology and internet connectivity in at least one sector of the rural economy of the district. Implications: The findings may provide vital information for rural entrepreneurs and policymakers looking to benefit from the digital revolution. Recommendation: The paper encourages the use of digital marketing and advertising to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities

AWARENESS, AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF DATABASES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE (FUAM) MAKURDI BENUE STATE

The purpose of the present study was to examine the awareness and use of databases by undergraduate students of FUAM one hundred students was randomly selected out of twenty thousand three hundred and twenty four (21324) in the study. A specifically designed questionnaire was administered to gather information about the awareness and use of databases by students. Results showed that the vast majority of the participants used Internet search engines rather than specialized databases and full-text resources. Only 6.8% became familiar with electronic resources by attending the library training programs. The main problem associated with the non-use of resources was lack of adequate searching skills. The above findings suggest limited use of databases by graduate students, mainly due to absence of basic skills, awareness. In order to exploit the full potential of information resources in the databases, university library should undertake a more active role in informing, promoting, and educating the members of the academic community

Obstacles in the trajectory of parallel development: a case study of Victoria Ranch town, Masvingo

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Built Environment in HousingThis study unpacks the obstacles in the trajectory of parallel development implementation in Zimbabwe. Parallel development approach to housing allows housing construction to be carried out simultaneously with the provision of services (Government of Zimbabwe, 2012).Parallel development was implemented in Victoria Ranch with the aim to improve home ownership through affordability. The implementation of parallel development approach in Victoria Ranch produced a township without basic infrastructure and supporting services. Despite rapid house construction beneficiaries are unable to connect to services. This scenario affects the technical and social sustainability of the township. Thus this study interrogates the obstacles in the trajectory of the Victoria Ranch development. I employ a qualitative design which involved policy evaluation through a case study. I conducted fourteen semi-structured interviews with beneficiaries and officials from relevant ministries who are involved in the development of the Victoria Ranch. The interviewees were selected purposively. I also employed observation and transact walks. Following the study, this research report found that the project is affected by the politicisation of the project, lack of transparency, change of currency, lack of proper guidelines on policy implementation and less monitoring of the developers.GR201

Global dual and poly-tobacco use in adults and implications for tobacco control

Background: Dual (using two tobacco products) and poly-tobacco product use (using more than two) account for a considerable proportion of global tobacco users. Although the global prevalence of tobacco use has declined from 33.3% in 2000 to 24.9% in 2015 and is projected to decline further in response to global tobacco control efforts, there is a growing diversity of new and alternative tobacco products in certain areas across the globe. This has contributed to the high prevalence of concurrent use of multiple tobacco products and the possibility of transitions between products, potentially increasing the health burden associated with tobacco use in areas of high prevalence of use, such as the lower-middle income countries (LMICs). Therefore, improving understanding of dual and poly-tobacco use is essential for tobacco control policy and practice. Objectives: To first systematically review existing epidemiologic evidence on current dual and poly-tobacco use among adults globally. Then, building upon the conceptual model of multiple tobacco product (MTP) use to further assess potential associations with individual and country-level factors among adults in LMICs using the latest wave of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Following that, conduct an in-depth case study on Bangladesh, one of the LMICs with the highest prevalence of tobacco users globally, using the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC)-Bangladesh dataset to longitudinally investigate the patterns and factors related to transitions of different tobacco use patterns and products within different user subgroups. Lastly, to give suggestions based on the above findings to inform tobacco control regulations. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify studies published up to June 30, 2020, with measures of nationally representative prevalence of current dual or poly-tobacco use among adults. Next, data from 19 LMICs was obtained from the most recent wave of the DHS study, collected between 2015 and 2016, comprising 235,975 men aged 15–49 years. The prevalence was estimated using available sample weights. To estimate the associations of individual and country-level factors with tobacco use, a range of person, product, and context/situation factors were examined with multilevel models. For the longitudinal analyses, a balanced panel of 3,245 tobacco users from 2009 to 2015 in four waves of the ITC Bangladesh survey was used. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models in longitudinal data analysis were utilised to evaluate predictors for transitions of cigarettes, bidis, and smokeless tobacco (SLT) use. However, only male adults were included for analyses of transitions of exclusive cigarette and exclusive bidi users, as the prevalence of both products among female adults was significantly lower in all waves of the survey. Results: Twenty studies with nationally representative prevalence data on current dual or poly-tobacco use in the adult population across 48 countries were included in the systematic review. Dual tobacco use was generally higher in Southeast Asia; poly-tobacco use was prevalent in Europe as well as in Southeast Asia. Factors associated with dual and poly-tobacco use were older age, low academic achievement, low-income status, being divorced, living in urban areas, high frequency of media use, and being a migrant. MPOWER scores were inversely associated with single tobacco use, but not with dual and poly-tobacco use. Longitudinal transition analyses revealed that age, place of residence, and psychosocial factors such as attitudes toward tobacco use and intent to quit were the most important factors associated with cigarette, bidi, and SLT use transitions in Bangladesh. Conclusions: Findings suggest that dual and poly-tobacco use are common among men, especially in LMICs in Southeast Asia. The related individual and contextual-level factors explored in this thesis could aid researchers and policy makers in identifying specific target populations, products, or consumer characteristics linked to dual/poly-tobacco use, and products transitions. This thesis highlights the need for global tobacco control regulations to be expanded and strengthened in all aspects to address all tobacco products and explicitly consider dual and poly-use to further reduce tobacco-related inequality, disease and economic burden globally.Open Acces

CDL Data Quality Assessment

Quality issues related to commercial driver license (CDL) data present ongoing challenges to state and federal transportation agencies. This study highlights several problems with CDL data, including a lack of standardization for state-specific traffic infractions; process and workflow difficulties that degrade the accuracy, validity, and timeliness of data; adjudication procedures that can potentially mask serious violations from CDL driver history records; inadequate recordkeeping in state law enforcement citation and court case management software applications; outdated mainframe systems in urgent need of upgrades; IT personnel who are not paid enough; and insufficient reporting requirements for federal agencies that issue traffic citations. Best practices states can adopt to resolve these issues include undertaking renewed efforts to standardize state traffic infraction codes and equivalency tables; increasing automation of data entry and reducing repetitive data entry processes; amplifying outreach efforts to law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges that are focused on the federal guidelines which govern the adjudication of CDL-related infractions and their application to driver history records; including a CDL indicator in citation and adjudication software so that researchers and analysts can better track how CDL-related traffic are handled; increasing investments in new IT systems as well as personnel recruitment and retention; and improving coordination between federal agencies and the Central Violations Bureau so that traffic citations are reported to state agencies quicker

Re-tooling challenges for Zimbabwean tourism operators in a multi-currency trading environment.

Over the past decade the Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ) initiated ease of doing business reforms aimed at repositioning the country`s tourism industry. This study reviews tourism operators` re-tooling challenges in Zimbabwe`s current economic landscape. A questionnaire survey was administered on sixty tourism sub-sector`s representatives. Findings highlight that local tourism operators are experiencing sub-optimal capacity utilisation, and a dire liquidity crunch. Results further showed that local operators` re-tooling efforts have been harm-strung by policy inconsistency, antique production equipment, debt legacy issues, devastating effects of sanctions or restrictive measures, lack of skilled personnel and brain drain, and a very high cost of doing business. The study conceived that Zimbabwe currently does not tick all the boxes of being a first choice tourist destination given the international tourism market`s low opinion on its very expensive destination tag, and its intoxicated political and economic environment. However, there was general consensus among stakeholders that the gamut of challenges was not insurmountable with the necessary political will. Recommendations were the need for the speedy rehabilitation of destination Zimbabwe`s relations with international financial institutions and de-construction of the high risk country profile index in order to firmly put the tourism sector on a solid path again

Implications of credit constraint on the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in sub-Saharan Africa

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations continue to grow across sub-Saharan Africa and serve as a source of livelihood to many rural communities. Owing to safety, health, environmental, and social concerns, the occupation has been regarded as a menace in several sub-Sahara African countries. Recent studies in the field of ASM prescribe formalization as a way to tame its excesses while enhancing its potential. This paper explores the concept of formalization as it relates to ASM and how it is being affected by the funding situation. The paper seeks to address the question as to whether formalization of artisanal mining operations can achieve the desired results in view of the lingering credit constraints in this mining subsector. It is recommended that, as a way of extending the scope of formalization, focus should be placed not only on access to credit in ASM but also towards optimizing the creditworthiness of ASM firms, with the goal of improving the viability of the operations.https://journals.co.za/journal/saimmam2023Mining Engineerin