Corporate community engagement (CCE) in Zimbabwe's mining industry from the Stakeholder Theory perspective

Questionnaires translated into ShonaMineral extraction is one of the key drivers of Africa’s economies and is also one of the largest industries in the world. In many African countries, including Zimbabwe, mining contributes to profound parts of the economy and remain the engine for economic growth. In recent years, and following the continual exploitation of minerals, mining companies have been scrutinized as a major cause of social, environmental, and economic problems faced mainly by communities at the margins. In this regard, mining companies are widely perceived to be prospering at the expense of adjacent communities, who are the primary recipients of the externalities, mainly negative, from mining operations. Due to incongruent stakeholder interests conflicts have erupted given the peculiar case of the extractive industries in Zimbabwe. Having realised the differences among stakeholder interests over minerals, in the extractive industry the study sought to answer this question: how is CCE understood by different stakeholders? And how is CCE measured by the same stakeholders?. The focus of the study is to evaluate the meaning of CCE from multiple stakeholders in the extractive industry in Zimbabwe; and to analyse how CCE is measured by identified stakeholders. In order to satisfy the stated objectives, the study employed mixed research method. This study revealed similarity in understanding of CCE and its usefulness amongst the different stakeholder groups. Of cognitive importance is the realisation by stakeholders on the need for proactive communities and corporate investment into community for effective partnerships. Collaboration, empowerment, inclusion, trust and organisation emerged to be the major facilitators for CCE. The study presents operative CCE according to the obligations and expectations of stakeholders. Having realised that mining industries are particularly susceptible to conflict between stakeholders, the study suggests proactive desire to mitigate these conflicts through CCE in the mining industry. In this respect, community development, peace and stability and strong economy are the major outcomes of effective CCE. The study recommends participation of resource owners in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation as well as dividends sharing of mining projects as advocated for by the CCE Model. It is also recommended that the adoption of the CCE Model will ensure a sustainable and harmonious coexistence between the predominantly capitalistic mining concerns and the resource owners and solve part of the current impasse to business and community development.Business ManagementD.B.L

Effect of business soft skills on service delivery in the hospitality industry in Harare, Zimbabwe

pace of change has changed tremendously as the business world becomes global. Since the dollarization of the Zimbabwean economy in 2009, the service organisations have been facing challenges in terms of managing fluctuating demand. In particular, many companies in the hospitality industry were still using a “hit and miss” approach to handle their service. As such, business soft skills have become indispensable in the hospitality industry in the enhancement of service delivery. The study, therefore sought to examine the effect of business soft skills on service delivery in the hospitality industry in Harare. Specifically, the research sought to establish the knowledge levels of business soft skills in the hospitality industry; establish the impact of training on business professional skills in the hospitality industry on employee service delivery and identify the extent to which business soft skills have enhanced service delivery. A survey research design was adopted and survey questionnaires were sent to respondents who are implicitly and explicitly involved in business soft skills activities. The study’s sample size comprised of 150 part time and permanent employees from selected hospitality companies. The research questionnaires were tested for reliability and validity through a pilot test. All the collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) version 20.0. The findings revealed that soft skills such as interpersonal skills, communication skills, strong work ethics and team work skills were deficient. In addition, respondents also showed difficulties in leadership and decision making skills. The findings revealed that business soft skills were low among all the types of employees. The findings also revealed that companies do have challenges with soft skills training. The study concluded that soft skills are of paramount importance in meeting customer needs. Thus, soft skills are important in showcasing hard skills. The study recommends future research to focus on the demand side of the skills equation by looking on how the designs of organisations and jobs do impact skill requirements and performance in the hospitality service sector.CPU