EFFECTS OF AUTHORITARIAN AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE: MEDIATING ROLE OF EMPLOYEE COMPETENCIES AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ZIMBABWEAN BANKS

The purpose and objective of this paper is to identify the effects from key selected independent variables namely Authoritarian Leadership (AL), Ethical Leadership (EL), towards a chosen dependent variable Employee Performance (EP). It also studies the mediating roles of two independents that is Employee Competencies (EC), and Performance Management Practices (PMP) when introduced to the model. A survey questionnaire for data gathering was used and issued to respondents that were bank employees on selected commercial banks located in Harare capital City of Zimbabwe, and total of 390 valid responses were gathered. SPSS version 24 was used to analyse the collected data on each variable through demographic, reliability tests, regression analysis, correlation and factor analysis during the validation process of the gathered data.  The data analysis outcome showed that all the identified variables were predictors and influential to employee performance, when analysed as individual variables. Management of companies are required to focus on mixing both the leadership element and the competency as a prerequisite practices and action towards achieving higher performance

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND LABOUR MARKET IN SOUTH AFRICA: A FOCUS ON THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact which was by the Covid-19 pandemic in the hospitality industry of South Africa. South Africa has one of the largest and highest developed hospitality industries in the region. The hospitality sector in South Africa employs 5% of the active age group and contributes around 10.3% revenue income to the government of South Africa. Unfortunately, South Africa emerged as one of the hot spots of the Covid-19 virus infections. As a way of controlling the pandemic, hard lockdowns were introduced starting on the 27th of March 2020. The sealing of the country’s port of entries brought the hospitality sector to its knees. This study evaluates impact of Covid-19 on the business sector and the labour market in South Africa focussing on the hospitality industry. The study used secondary data from survey reports from South Africa’s National Department of Tourism, (Statssa, Google mobility and other authoritative relevant sources. The study concluded that the pandemic had a devastating effect on areas such as labour, the overall business, the labour market, and the hospitality sector. The most affected areas from the hospitality sector were aviation, maritime, special events, accommodation, hotels, restaurants, lodges, recreational parks, and national parks. When COVID-19 came some businesses in the hospitality sector were servicing loans borrowed from financial institutions. The findings of the study indicated the need for a strong financial backup to cushion business during pandemics for the hospitality sector, tax holidays and adoption of stringent health protocols to assist the industry recovery and make business more profitable. The theoretical implication of the study is that it will expose the impact of COVID-19 on the business sector and the labour market in South Africa with a focus on the hospitality industry, and to map a future mitigatory way to overcome such natural calamities towards the business sector

AN INVESTIGATION OF RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF POSITIVE FESTIVAL IMPACTS, COMMUNITY ATTACHMENT AND WELL-BEING: A STUDY ON THE JAMESON FESTIVAL, VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE

The Study aims to examine residents’ perception of positive festival impacts, social cohesion and cultural benefits on the relationship between community attachment and well-being. An integration of the Social Exchange and Affect Theories are employed to develop and test a conceptual model that test the interrelationships. The quantitative research approach is used to conduct the study on resident attendees of the Jameson Festival in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Via the convenience sampling technique data are collected. Results of the study indicate that festivals foster community cohesiveness and community attachment. They also show that the perceived positive festival impact: community cohesiveness is strongly related to community attachment and well-being; community attachment mediates the relationships. Contrarily, though the relationship between festival cultural preservation and community attachment was partially supported, there was no significant association to well-being. The theoretical implications of the study lay mainly on the introduction of a new theory to the festival body of studies and the study’ findings shed light and direction on practical implications and future directions for festival organizers and scholar