History: The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Struggle for Democratisation in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) 1972-1980

Christian Churches have played, and continue to play important roles in the histories of many African countries. In Southern Africa, the Catholic Church played an important role in the liberation struggles of many countries. This paper examines the contribution of the Catholic Church through the lens of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in the democratisation of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). It advances the proposition that the Church, through the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, played an important role in the internationalization of the Rhodesian crisis between 1972 and 1980. It argues first, that the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace performed a sterling job of breaking the enormous silence about the horrifying things that were taking place in Rhodesia through the preparation, publication anddissemination of objective information; second that the Commission succeeded in countering Rhodesian government’s propaganda and psychological warfare campaign; third and finally that the Commission brought enough internal and external pressure to bear on the Rhodesian government to hasten its collapse

It’s all in the Treatment: An Empirical Study of Fairness Perceptions in the Workplace

This study examined the distinct mechanisms through which supervisory interactional justice and affective trust elicit positive work outcomes via social exchange theory. Barron and Kenny’s (1986) mediation test and Sobel’s test were utilized to test data from 317 employees from organizations from various industries that included manufacturing, hospitality, and healthcare. The results support the proposed model and illustrate the salient role the supervisor plays as an alternative source of fairness perceptions in the workplace. Furthermore, the results illustrate how trust mediates the relationship between supervisory interactional justice and work outcomes. The implications, limitations and direction for future research are discussed

An Investigation on the Effectiveness of Forensic Audit as a Tool for Fraud Detection and Prevention

There has been a rapid increase in the number of fraud and corruption cases despite statutory audits being carried out. This led to the rise in demand for forensic auditing services and in response audit firms began offering this service. The audit firms however suffer from lack of adequate resources, training, knowledge and practical experience. Taking into consideration the impact of these factors this research sought to investigate the effectiveness of forensic audit as a tool for the detection and prevention of fraudulent activities using a Chartered Accountancy Company in Zimbabwe as a case study. The research utilized a mixed approach whereby quantitative data was gathered from closed ended questions quantified using the Likert scale. Qualitative data was gathered from open ended questions and 3 interviews were also conducted. A total of 20 questionnaires were distributed using random sampling, 19 were returned and one lost in the process. To analyze the data the multiple regression method was employed and data was presented using bar graphs and tables supported by explanations. The research revealed that there is a positive relationship between training, level of education and ability to detect and prevent fraud. It was also found that litigation support service has a huge role to play in the effectiveness of forensic auditing in detecting and preventing fraud. Recommendations were made towards increase in training sessions as well as engaging in training and development programs to fully equip auditors with knowledge

One-pot synthesis and characterization of InP/ZnSe semiconductor nanocrystals

We report on the one-pot synthesis of InP/ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) using a precursor-based colloidal synthesis in a noncoordinating solvent environment. The structural and optical studies were carried out on the as-prepared InPQDs. The quantum yield of the nanocrystals was recorded as 6% and a 1.4 times reduction in the ratio of trap-related emission to band edge emission was observed on ZnSe passivation of the InPQDs.Web of Scienc

Examining the impact of HIV-related stigma in people living with HIV: a systematic literature review

The last 20 years have seen an improvement in access to anti-retroviral (ARVs) drugs for people living with HIV leading to improvement in health outcomes. However, despite achieving this milestone HIV stigma has continued to hamper the health outcomes of people living with HIV. This study aimed to undergo a systematic review exploring the impact of HIV stigma on people living with HIV. A systematic literature review of both quantitative and qualitative studies published between 2017 and 2021 was undertaken using the following databases: CINAHL Plus, Embase, Google Scholar, Medline, and Scopus. Reference lists from relevant studies and websites of relevant sexual health and HIV organisations were also searched. The primary search terms were “HIV and stigma” combined with “impact” or with “discrimination”, “internalised stigma” and “lack of esteem”, or “mental health” or “caused by HIV sigma” in communities, “HIV and discrimination”, “impact of HIV stigma”. Six articles were included for review and analysed using constant comparative analysis. The review identified six broad themes (lack of adherence, internalised HIV stigma, discrimination, lack of self-esteem, public stereotyping, and non-disclosure) factors having a significant influence on people living with HIV. Perceived stigma towards people living with HIV has a negative effect on health outcomes of people living with the condition. The findings of our study highlight that public stereotyping and perceived stigma in the community are the major factors impacting people living with HIV

“COMING TOGETHER” (Batanai): Learning from Zimbabwe’s experiences with community biodiversity conservation, participatory crop improvement and climate change adaptation

This brief presents the findings and lessons learned of a study tour by a team from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa to neighbouring Zimbabwe, to learn about the roles of Farmer Field Schools, functions and operations of community seedbanks and various forms of participatory crop improvement, promoted by the Community Technology Development Organisation of Zimbabwe

Independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene, and improved complementary feeding, on child stunting and anaemia in rural Zimbabwe: a cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Child stunting reduces survival and impairs neurodevelopment. We tested the independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) on stunting and anaemia in in Zimbabwe. METHODS: We did a cluster-randomised, community-based, 2 × 2 factorial trial in two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Clusters were defined as the catchment area of between one and four village health workers employed by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care. Women were eligible for inclusion if they permanently lived in clusters and were confirmed pregnant. Clusters were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to standard of care (52 clusters), IYCF (20 g of a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement per day from age 6 to 18 months plus complementary feeding counselling; 53 clusters), WASH (construction of a ventilated improved pit latrine, provision of two handwashing stations, liquid soap, chlorine, and play space plus hygiene counselling; 53 clusters), or IYCF plus WASH (53 clusters). A constrained randomisation technique was used to achieve balance across the groups for 14 variables related to geography, demography, water access, and community-level sanitation coverage. Masking of participants and fieldworkers was not possible. The primary outcomes were infant length-for-age Z score and haemoglobin concentrations at 18 months of age among children born to mothers who were HIV negative during pregnancy. These outcomes were analysed in the intention-to-treat population. We estimated the effects of the interventions by comparing the two IYCF groups with the two non-IYCF groups and the two WASH groups with the two non-WASH groups, except for outcomes that had an important statistical interaction between the interventions. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01824940. FINDINGS: Between Nov 22, 2012, and March 27, 2015, 5280 pregnant women were enrolled from 211 clusters. 3686 children born to HIV-negative mothers were assessed at age 18 months (884 in the standard of care group from 52 clusters, 893 in the IYCF group from 53 clusters, 918 in the WASH group from 53 clusters, and 991 in the IYCF plus WASH group from 51 clusters). In the IYCF intervention groups, the mean length-for-age Z score was 0·16 (95% CI 0·08-0·23) higher and the mean haemoglobin concentration was 2·03 g/L (1·28-2·79) higher than those in the non-IYCF intervention groups. The IYCF intervention reduced the number of stunted children from 620 (35%) of 1792 to 514 (27%) of 1879, and the number of children with anaemia from 245 (13·9%) of 1759 to 193 (10·5%) of 1845. The WASH intervention had no effect on either primary outcome. Neither intervention reduced the prevalence of diarrhoea at 12 or 18 months. No trial-related serious adverse events, and only three trial-related adverse events, were reported. INTERPRETATION: Household-level elementary WASH interventions implemented in rural areas in low-income countries are unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia and might not reduce diarrhoea. Implementation of these WASH interventions in combination with IYCF interventions is unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia more than implementation of IYCF alone. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome Trust, Swiss Development Cooperation, UNICEF, and US National Institutes of Health.The SHINE trial is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1021542 and OPP113707); UK Department for International Development; Wellcome Trust, UK (093768/Z/10/Z, 108065/Z/15/Z and 203905/Z/16/Z); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; US National Institutes of Health (2R01HD060338-06); and UNICEF (PCA-2017-0002)

European literate observers\' perceptions of African rulers in pre-colonial Southern Africa: the case of Zimbabwe C.1850-1890

No Abstract.African Journal of Cross-Cultural psychology and sport facilitation (AJCPSF) Vol. 7 2005: pp. 39-4

Women's voices, women's lives: Qwaqwa women's experiences of the Apartheid and post-Apartheid eras

Spivak’s (1988; 1995) famous question, “Can the Subaltern speak” holds important connotations about many people living on the margins of society. It has greater significance for the sexed subaltern subjects who cannot speak and who cannot be heard because they are doubly-oppressed. In many post-liberation regimes on the African continent this is a troubling question. It is a troubling question because the end of colonialism and apartheid did not necessarily translate into major gains for most of society, and women in particular, who, like men, actively participated in, or supported the struggle against colonialism and apartheid. This article, based on the voices of rural and urban women from the former “homeland” of Qwaqwa, South Africa, brings to the fore their experiences, as well as perceptions of both the apartheid and post-apartheid eras. It has established that women were much more oppressed under apartheid than they are today. Thus, while the social status of women has changed for the better, gender discrimination and gender-based violence persist, reinforcing the motion that even in post-apartheid South Africa women have no voice. The extent to which social security grants are entrenching the culture of dependency and entitlement as claimed by our interviewees, calls for further academic scrutiny, and so does the perceived increase in the trafficking of women and children in post-apartheid South Africa

Comparison of cranial dysraphism in a breed of crested duck (Hollandse kuifeend) and in the bovine

The dysraphic state in the Dutch crested duck is a breed specific autosomal trait with an incomplete penetrance. We have observed similarities between the lesions found in the head of the normal Dutch crested duck (Hollandse kuifeend) and cases of dysraphism found in calves that have continuously been brought to our laboratory. The comparison between these lesions in different animal species has not been described before. Breeding studies have shown that dysraphic state in the duck is a lethal trait but, as in other airmails with undesirable traits, such as the British bulldog and crested chicken breeds, the crested duck continues to flourish. Based on the gross similarities of the lesions proposed that the pathogenesis of the condition could be the same and the duck could be adopted as an animal model for the study of this condition in the bovine although the pattern of inheritance of this condition in the bovine has not been established. Zimbabwe Vet. J. Vol.33(2) 2002: 64-7