Introducing Systems Dynamics in National Planning

A ZIDS Discussion Paper.The purpose of this paper is to provide elementary knowledge of Systems Dynamics and to provide a brief indication of its advantages and shortcomings, as an approach to development in planning. The background of Zimbabwe, vis-a-vis the problems being faced by the nation as a whole are pointed out. Systems Dynamics is later introduced to familiarize readers with the concepts, and the need for its application in national planning is highlighted. The paper then brings out the advantages and disadvantages of using Systems Dynamics in the planning of the economy. It is to be emphasized that Systems Dynamics is not a substitute for conventional economic analysis, but that both approaches could be used to come up with more effective plans

Trends and Determinants of Birth Registration Completeness in Zimbabwe, 2005-2015

Childbirth registration in Zimbabwe has decreased over the years, yet the risk factors associated with this incompleteness have not been explored. This study investigates the trends in birth registration completeness and factors associated with the decrease in birth registration among children aged 0-5 years from 2005-2015. We use data from the, 2005-06, 2010-11 and 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey. Trends in birth registration completeness based on survey year were calculated and multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the predictors of birth registration. Birth registration completeness was 75.4 percent, 47.3 percent, and 43.8 percent in 2005, 2010, and 2015, respectively. Inequities in birth registration completeness become apparent when examined by wealth, urban/rural location, geographical region, maternal education, healthcare utilisation, and marital status. Child age, maternal education, marital status, household wealth status, residence, province, and delivery place were significant predictors of birth registration. Efforts to improve birth registration in Zimbabwe should target children born at home, children born to single and young mothers, and children whose mothers are poor and reside in rural areas

The Association between Spousal Gender Based Violence and Women’s Empowerment among Currently Married Women aged 15-49 in Zimba- bwe: Evidence from the 2010-11 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey

In Zimbabwe, levels of spousal Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remain a health, human rights and development concern. The main objective of this study was to investigate the association between spousal GBV and women’s empowerment among women aged 15-49 who were currently in union or living with a man. The analysis utilised the 2010-11 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) data. Spousal violence was measured by different forms of GBV i.e. physical, emotional, sexual violence and overall GBV. Overall, 48.2% of women of reproductive age who are in a union experience some type of GBV. More specifically, 26.9% report physical violence, 25.7% sexual violence and 25.7% emotional violence. The analysis showed that women who did not participate in decision-making at household level were more likely to experience GBV than those who do. Women who have control over their spouses’ earnings were less likely to suffer from GBV. However, ownership of property (land and/or house) was not associated with spousal GBV. Women who were in polygamous unions, whose spouses drank alcohol, earned less than their spouses and had a history of non-spousal physical violence were more likely to experience GBV than all other women. Younger women (aged 15-19 years) were more likely to experience spousal emotional, physical and sexual violence than the older age groups. Recommendations are to improve women’s participation in decision making, mainstreaming GBV in development, and improve the economic and social emancipation of women and girls

Gender gaps in the path to adulthood for young females and males in six African countries from the 1990s to the 2010s

In this paper, we study on a comparative basis the school-to-work transition of young women and young men in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and we examine how this has evolved over recent years, based on the data collected by Demographic and Health Surveys. We examine educational attainments and the nature of early jobs young people are able to obtain, as well as considering their relationship to marriage and fertility outcomes, factors which are likely to be particularly relevant for young women. A pooled regression analysis shows that educational levels have increased substantially and gender gaps have narrowed in most countries. Access to better jobs has improved much more slowly with unchanging gender gaps in most countries, so that agriculture is still the dominant sector of employment for most young men and women. We model correlates of key educational outcomes and access to different types of jobs those controlling for individual- and household-level characteristics, including marital status, presence of children and wealth. Attaining a high level of education is unsurprisingly critical for access to the best jobs and is also associated with young women delaying marriage and childbearing

On handling urban informality in southern Africa

In this article I reconsider the handling of urban informality by urban planning and management systems in southern Africa. I argue that authorities have a fetish about formality and that this is fuelled by an obsession with urban modernity. I stress that the desired city, largely inspired by Western notions of modernity, has not been and cannot be realized. Using illustrative cases of top–down interventions, I highlight and interrogate three strategies that authorities have deployed to handle informality in an effort to create or defend the modern city. I suggest that the fetish is built upon a desire for an urban modernity based on a concept of formal order that the authorities believe cannot coexist with the “disorder” and spatial “unruliness” of informality. I question the authorities' conviction that informality is an abomination that needs to be “converted”, dislocated or annihilated. I conclude that the very configuration of urban governance and socio-economic systems in the region, like the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, renders informality inevitable and its eradication impossible

The status of women and fertility in Zimbabwe

A research paper on gender and fertility in Zimbabwe.This paper examines the nature of the relationship between the status of women and fertility, and the implications of this relationship for future fertility reduction in Zimbabwe. Fertility in Zimbabwe is comparatively high for sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, the status of women is considered to be an important factor in reducing high population growth rates, since it has a negative effect on fertility. Specific indicators of women’s status, for example education and work status, have been found to be negatively related to women’s fertility. In the study these indicators will be hypothesized to be negatively related to fertility, and then tested using data from the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (CSO, 1989)

Implications of economic structural adjustment programme on population and environment: the case of Shamva District

A research paper on how the IMF recommended Economic Structural Adjustment Development Programme impacted on the population and environment of a rural Zimbabwean district of Shamva as the case study.The Government in 1990 introduced the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) in order to improve the lives of the people through a framework of economic management and sustainable development. In the context of sustainable development, there is an old time problem of the separation between environment and economics in the development of the country. Sustainable development is "development which meets the needs of this generation without compromising the needs of future generations". Where environment and economic development are not syncronised because the environment is not given a value in economic terms, and hence ignored in planning, this exacerbates the problem of environmental degradation. Thus, less developed countries face the challenge of alleviating poverty and increasing welfare while at the same time ensuring that the carrying capacity of the environment is not exceeded. The objective of this study is to show the relationship that exists between population and the environment, and determine the role played by the developmental policy of Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) on the concerned population and consequently on the environment

Factors facilitating risky sexual behaviour among youths in Mufakose, Harare, Zimbabwe

Background: Risky sexual behaviours among the youth are a global challenge since they expose young people to reproductive health challenges that include sexually transmitted infections including HIV, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The objective of this study was to identify the factors facilitating youth’s risky sexual behaviour.Methods: A survey and focus group discussions were conducted to collect data on risky sexual behaviour among the youth aged 15-24 years in Mufakose, Harare. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the factors associated with risky sexual behaviour.Results: The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 17.5. The study findings show that 27% of the youth had multiple sexual partners while 26% did not use condoms consistently. Age, religiosity, schooling status, attending parties/clubs, alcohol consumption, smoking/drug use, living and sleeping arrangement, orphan hood status and parents’ education were significantly associated with risky sexual behaviour.Conclusion: Strengthening of youth policies and programmes to support the role of youths, families and religious organisations in behaviour change is recommende