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Access status: Open Access ,
An Investigation on the causes of the financial downturn of OK Zimbabwe.
(BUSE, 2026-06) Mutunami, Greetwin
This study investigates the causes of the financial downturn of OK Zimbabwe limited, one of Zimbabwe’s old and most established retail chains. OK Zimbabwe recorded a significant operational loses across financial year 2021 to FY 2025, including a net loss of USD 25 million. A Quantitative research design was adopted, guided by a positivist research philosophy. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaires of 30 distributed questions achieving a response rate of 100%. Secondary data were drawn from OK Zimbabwe’s published annual reports for the period of 2021-2025, supplemented by data from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, ZIMSTAT and African financials. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed using SPSS Version 20 to examine the relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variables. The results confirmed that currency exchange rate volatility emerged as the most dominant and statistically significant predictor of financial performance. Supply chain disruption yielding a non-significant coefficient partly because supply chain challenges were themselves driven by exchange rate instability. The study concludes that currency exchange rate volatility is the primary driver of OK Zimbabwe’s deterioration. The study recommends that OK Zimbabwe adopts a competitive hedging strategy against currency exposure.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Impact of AI chatbots usability and digital literacy on online retail store preference and online purchase intention.
(BUSE, 2026-06) Masocha, Nyasha
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots into e-commerce platforms has transformed digital retail, yet their influence on consumer behaviour in emerging markets remains poorly understood. This study investigated the impact of AI chatbot usability and digital literacy on online retail store preference and online purchase intention among consumers in Harare, Zimbabwe. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, the study adopted a quantitative, descriptive survey design. Data were collected via structured questionnaire from 300 online retail consumers, and analysed using SPSS and structural equation modelling (SEM) through AMOS. The findings revealed that AI chatbot usability did not significantly influence online retail store preference, suggesting that consumers prioritise factors such as product quality, trust, price, and service reliability over chatbot functionality alone. Similarly, digital literacy showed no significant direct relationship with online retail store preference. However, demographic factors including education level, income, and prior technology experience were found to significantly shape consumers’ digital literacy. Importantly, online retail store preference had a significant positive effect on online purchase intention, underscoring the role of store-level attributes such as website design, information quality, and security in driving purchasing behaviour. These findings contribute empirical evidence from a sub-Saharan African emerging market context to the growing body of literature on AI adoption in retail. The study recommends that online retailers prioritise trust-building, product information quality, and platform usability, while policymakers invest in digital literacy programmes to strengthen consumer participation in the digital economy. Future research should explore the mediating role of trust and examine chatbot personalisation and emotional intelligence as drivers of purchase intention.
Access status: Open Access ,
An Investigation of fuel shortages and their impact on operational performance: a case study of Petrozim Line (private) Limited
(BUSE, 2026-06) Hove, Patience Aisha
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of fuel shortages on operational performance at Petrozim Line (Pvt) Ltd. Zimbabwe has continued to face the persistent problem of fuel shortages, thereby impacting on the operations of various organization’s dependent on a stable fuel supply. The study was aimed at identifying the reasons for fuel shortages, identifying the impact of these fuel shortages on operations and then to investigate the measures put in place by Petrozim Line (Pvt) Ltd to tackle these shortages as well as proposing solutions to overcome their impact. A mixed methodology research approach was adopted whereby qualitative and quantitative methods were combined. The data was collected from a total of 50 respondents compromising employees and managers working for various departments within the organization. Questionnaires and interviews were used as methods for data collection. The quantitative data was analyzed by use of frequencies, percentages, tables and graphs while the qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated that fuel shortages had a significant impact on operational performance of Petrozim Line (Pvt) Ltd by causing service delays, increased operating costs and reduced efficiency as well as affecting the productivity of its employees and work flow management. It was also established that causes of fuel shortage were foreign currency shortages, delays in fuel import, inefficient supply chain and reliance on imports of fuel. While steps such as establishing fuel management systems and developing alternative sourcing strategies have been taken by the company there still appear to be gaps in the system and operational efficiency is continually affected by the shortages. In conclusion fuel shortages had a major impact on the operational performance of Petrozim Line (Pvt) Ltd and that strategic reserves, diversifying fuel sources, improving fuel planning and forecasting and an efficient supply chain were essential in ensuring that organizations maintained business continuity in this challenging environment. Investing in alternative energy and the development of contingency plans will improve organizational resilience.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Contribution of international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) adoption to fraud risk management: a case study of Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA).
(BUSE, 2026-08) Goche, Mike Tinashe
The study examines the contribution of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) adoption to fraud risk management in Zimbabwe’s public sector, focusing on the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA). The study employed a quantitative explanatory design with data collected from 36 employees and management personnel at ZIDA through structured questionnaires. In a multiple linear regression, the results show a significant positive relation between adoption of IPSAS and performance of internal control (β=0.45), financial reporting transparency (β=0.50), public official accountability (β=0.55) and performance of audit (β=0.60). Results provide with R2 values between 0.62 to 0.70 which explain from 62% to 70% of the variance on the outcome variables from IPSAS adoption and control variables. The findings confirm the positive impact of IPSAS on audit effectiveness on fraud risk management. Although, it seems that enforcement and consistent implementation on a continuous basis could guarantee all IPSAS benefits are gained. The study recommends continuous IPSAS training, stronger monitoring systems, regular audits and effective policy implementation to strengthen governance and fraud risk management in public sector. The research provides valuable insights for developing economies on the role of accounting standards in enhancing transparency, accountability standards in enhancing transparency, accountability and fraud risk management.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Effectiveness of risk management strategies in mitigating credit risks. A Case of microfinance institutions in Zimbabwe.
(BUSE, 2026-06) Garufu, Providence Laneal
Credit risk remains a significant threat to the sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Zimbabwe, where loan defaults and non-performing loans persist despite the widespread adoption of formal risk management strategies. This study assessed the effectiveness of risk management strategies in mitigating credit risk among Zimbabwean MFIs, guided by four objectives: to analyze the key drivers of credit risk, to identify the major strategies currently employed, to assess their effectiveness in reducing loan defaults and non-performing loans and to identify measures for improving effectiveness in the sector. The study adopted a mixed-methods, descriptive and explanatory case study design, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative interview responses. Primary data were collected from 58 questionnaire respondents and 10 interview participants drawn from credit officers, loan officers, risk officers and managers and collection officers across sampled microfinance institutions. The analysis was grounded in five complementary frameworks: information asymmetry, adverse selection, moral hazard, portfolio and agency theories, which together explain credit risk as arising from borrower-level, institutional and macroeconomic factors. The findings show that credit risk is driven primarily by fraudulent borrower documentation, undetected multi-borrowing, income instability among informal-sector clients, inconsistent credit appraisal procedures and macroeconomic volatility. Sampled institutions employ strategies spanning credit appraisal, loan monitoring, collateral requirements, provisioning, governance controls and emerging technology adoption. While generally well-designed, their effectiveness is constrained by a gap between policy and practice; governance and staff competence were the strongest-performing areas, while credit referencing, collateral enforcement, write-off discipline and technology-driven early warning systems were comparatively weaker. Respondents viewed credit appraisal and loan monitoring as the most effective strategies, yet still perceived credit risk exposure as elevated, suggesting existing strategies have not fully reduced risk to acceptable levels. The study concludes that improving effectiveness requires accelerated technology integration, continuous staff training, stronger inter-institutional credit information sharing and closing the gap between formal policy and day-to-day practice. It contributes an integrated application of established credit risk theories to a volatile, high-informality economy, and offers practical recommendations for MFI management, regulators and policymakers seeking to strengthen credit risk outcomes in Zimbabwe's microfinance sector.