WUASpace Repository
The WUASpace is an open access digital archive which collects, preserves, and disseminates scholarly content produced by the WUA community. WUASpace contains journal articles, book chapters, postgraduate thesis/dissertations, conference papers, pre-prints, working papers, technical reports, progress reports, project reports, among others.
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Recent Submissions
Institutional constraints affecting secondary school student performance: A case study of rural communities in Zimbabwe
(Cogent Education, 2022-12-23) Precious Hove; Leon Marongedza; Promise Machingo Hlungwani
The study analyses the institutional constraints affecting child performance in secondary schools within rural communities in Zimbabwe. A qualitative
approach employing purposive sampling of participants was incorporated in the
study. Eight focus group discussions (FDGs), 16 in-depth interviews and four key
informant interviews were conducted in eight rural secondary schools located in
Seke and Shamva districts. The general systems theory was embraced as the
theoretical framework in this study. The principle of theoretical saturation was
applied in both the focus group discussion sessions and interviews where they ran
up until a clear pattern emerged and subsequent groups produced no new information. Data were analysed using thematic analysis techniques which systematically coded data to discover prevailing trends. The major highlight of the results is
that rural learners have to grapple with a lot of challenges in trying to access
education. Inadequate resources, long distances to school and demotivated teachers constitute the main highlights of the findings. The study established that
there is a need to explore more issues affecting the realisation of equitable and
inclusive education systems specifically for learners in rural communities. This
article also posits that addressing institutional constraints that are affecting child performance in rural secondary schools is not cast in stone. Thus, this requires
a holistic approach through engagement of all stakeholders involved in the drive
towards quality education and leaving no one behind.
A Literature Review of the Perspectives of CEO Pay: An Analysis of Issues and Controversies
(Macrothink Institute, 2018-09-09) Precious Hove; Faitira Manuere
The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on various theories that are used in organisations today to determine executive compensation. This paper analyses the relevance of the theories that are used to determine CEO compensation in modern corporations. The paper makes an attempt to review extensively the literature on CEO compensation. This paper looks at the concerns of sixteen theories of executive compensation. This paper further analyses the special features that are associated with CEO pay. These features help us to understand the problems that experts on executive pay experience when they try to define the exact CEO pay when compared to other rewards that are non financial. The drivers of executive pay are quantified and qualified in order to provide the conceptual background needed to understand the core factors that determine executive pay. Therefore the role of institutional investors in driving managerial salary is explored in detail. Finally, the effects of firm size and good corporate governance on executive pay are carefully analysed.
The usefulness of strategic planning in a turbulent economic environment: a case of Zimbabwe during the period 2007-2009
(Emerald Insight, 2013-01) Precious Hove; Tsitsi Mufudza; Mirriam Jengeta
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the feasibility of strategic planning in times of turbulent economic conditions. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses how various Zimbabwean organizations incorporated the aspect of strategic planning during the period 2007‐2009 in order to establish its relevance in different economic situations. Findings Strategic planning process is very difficult to carry out during turbulent economic conditions though there are some aspects of the process that are indispensible. Practical implications Organizations can survive without sticking to their strategic plans in times of turbulent economic environment. Originality/value The situation that prevailed in Zimbabwe in 2007‐2009 was unique and this paper endeavours to analyse the feasibility of strategic planning in a turbulent economic environment.
Local ecological knowledge (LEK) reveals the drivers and barriers for sustainable conservation of protected forest biodiversity
(Sustainable Environment, 2025-05-17) Beaven Utete; Tinotenda Rosemary Kembo
Understanding the key drivers and barriers to sustainable conservation of protected and unprotected forests, heavily utilised by humans and wildlife, is essential in sustainable forest management and law enforcement. This study aimed to: i) evaluate fringe community perceptions towards forest biodiversity sustainability across villages; ii) establish the key drivers and barriers of biodiversity conservation, and iii) develop an integrated conservation framework for the Gwaai Forest in Zimbabwe. Data were collected from 143 respondents using questionnaires, key informant interviews and direct observations. Locals, simultaneously, preferred and exerted negative pressure on clusterleaf Terminalia sericea and African teak Baikea plurijuga for carving, roofing and furniture making increasing the distance travelled to collect forest products. Human population increase, poaching, veld fires and overexploitation were the key barriers whereas tangible and intangible benefits for local people and improved management systems were the key drivers of sustainable conservation. Gwaai Forest access and utilisation is heavily regulated by the forest authorities whose policies are not human centred but rather aimed at maintaining the resilience and stability of the forest. There is a need to explore suitable alternative livelihoods such as farming of drought resistant small grains less dependent on the Gwaai Forest ecosystem services to reduce pressure on tree species and other natural resources. An in-depth understanding of the ecological, economic, and social factors that influence forest resilience is necessary for planning and managing
Gwaai Forest operations efficiently.
Landscape Connectivity Modelling for the African Savannah Elephant With Spatial Absorbing Markov Chain and Predicting the Regenerative Power of the Range in a Mesic Protected Area
(African Journal of Ecology, 2025-02-19) Beaven Utete; Nobert Tafadzwa Mukomberanwa; Phillip Taru; Patmore Ngorima; Honest Komborero Madamombe
Landscape connectivity is a critical factor influencing the survival and ecological roles of large terrestrial herbivores within dynamic ecosystems. Yet, the increasing fragmentation of habitats due to human activities, such as agricultural expansion and infrastructure development, disrupts natural movement patterns and limits access to essential resources. This is particularly concerning in mesic protected areas, where moderate rainfall supports diverse vegetation but is often bordered by human-dominated
landscapes. To address this challenge, the use of Spatial Absorbing Markov Chain (SAMC) provides a robust framework to simulate the African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) dispersal and identify critical connectivity nodes within fragmented landscapes. Additionally, assessing and understanding the regenerative potential of these landscapes is vital for evaluating their capacity to sustain wildlife populations and maintain ecological balance. The objectives of this study were to (i) model the ecological connectivity of Mana Pools National Park (MPNP) by assessing spatial and functional linkages among African savannah elephant herds and (ii) predict the regenerative potential of the park's range. We used multi-temporal satellite data (2003, 2013, and 2023), GPS collar data, road transects, and plot-based surveys. The study employed a cellular automata artificial neural network (CA-ANN) to forecast the regenerative potential of the range. Connectivity maps illuminated vital pathways that sustain
the elephants' migratory and foraging behaviours, underscoring the holistic interplay of land cover, slope, and terrain in shaping movement patterns. The study identified core micro-corridors and broader sub-landscape linkages essential for maintaining the park's ecological vitality. This interconnectedness serves as a testament to the resilience and regenerative power of the semiarid savannah. CA-ANN projections predicted a high landscape regenerative capacity by the year 2083. Highlighting diverse geographical priorities for connectivity conservation, the research advocates for integrated, multi-scale actions to preserve these vital linkages. Such insights are pivotal in nurturing the relational integrity of MPNP, ensuring its long-term viability as a sanctuary for elephants and other coexisting life forms. By integrating connectivity modelling and habitat regeneration predictions, this study advances conservation strategies. It highlights the importance of maintaining functional landscapes to preserve ecosystem resilience, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in increasingly fragmented ecosystems.