BUSE Institutional Repository

This repository serves as a digital archive for preserving and providing access to the scholalry and creative works produced by the BUSE community. It includes:

Journal articles, conference papers and other publications by the BUSE faculty, researchers and students
Theses and Dissertations completed by BUSE graduate students

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 9

Recent Submissions

Assessing the efficacy of myrothamnus flabellifolius (mufandichimuka/ resurrection tree) in controlling coccidiosis in indigenous chickens.
(BUSE, 2024-06) Mupondi, Edith S.
Eimeria, a codiosis causing bacteria leads to huge economic losses to the poultry farming industry. To mitigate the challenge there has been conventional formulations as an endeavour to boost chicken growth rate and health in general. To date there are several challenges being faced by poultry farmers because of the conventional codiostat available, which can face bacterial resistance from the virulent Eimeria. The study assessed the qualitative and quantitative bioactive chemicals in Myrothamnus flabellifolius (Mufandichimuka) aqueous and acetone extract. It also investigated the effectiveness of the plant as a codiostat. Lastly, there was M. flabellifolius codiostat formulation and packagingand packagingdevelopment and packaging and packaging. For the qualitative analysis, phytochemical compounds were identified using standard screening tests, including tests for phenols, tannins, saponins, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics to provide a summary of the characteristics of the coccidial compounds. This included measures such as mean and standard deviation. Also, the results were subjected to an independent samples t-test. The qualitative results revealed that, phenols, tannins, saponins, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids were present in the plant extracts. Furthermore, quantitative analysis, quantified phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and alkaloids. Overall, the results indicate that the acetone solvent was more effective in extracting these phytochemical compounds from the plant material compared to the hot water solvent. A multi-faceted approach using ethanol, methanol, and hydro distillation, combined with advanced processing techniques, can maximize the extraction efficiency of M. flabellifolius, ensuring the retrieval of its diverse bioactive compounds for various therapeutic applications. To address the issue of level of effectiveness of the plant’s extracts, phytochemicals were quantified, and birds' growth rates, invitro assays, and mortality rates were studied. To analyze the growth rate, all the birds used in the study were weighed every 7 days. The reduction of oocyst counts, focused on the faecal oocyst concentration reduction rate. Birds were observed for mortality, counting total deaths post inoculation. The data for weight gain was analyzed using one way ANOVA. Also, the weight gain was subjected to Bonferroni post-hoc test for pairwise comparisons. The results for oocyst reduction rate were expressed as percentages. The mortality rates were expressed in percentages. The results indicate that the M. flabellifolius treatment group had the highest mean weight gain at day 42. Group which received the M. flabellifolius treatment, also exhibited lower mortality rates compared to the untreated group. Lastly, the data suggests that the two treatment interventions, particularly the Coccidiostat and ESB3 combination, had a significant positive impact on the oocyst count reduction, resulting in a much more substantial and sustained increase compared to the control group. Overall, this study demonstrated that M. flabellifolius can reduce coccidiosis infected poultry mortality, reduce oocyst count and improve the growth weight. The development and packaging and packaging of the plant codiostat, involved, labelling, packaging material, packaging design, packaging, quality control and stability testing.
Comparative proximate and micro nutrient analysis between home-grown and indigenous mushrooms.
(BUSE, 2025-05) Murisi, Alice A.
Mushroom are known traditionally for their culinary and nutritional benefits, making them a widely and preferred choices in various cuisines worldwide. Mushrooms provide a source of essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins and minerals hence serve as a valuable addition to human diets especially in regions where protein sources are limited. The study compared two distinct categories of mushrooms that are subject to different growing conditions. The grouping into wild and home-grown serves as a key independent variable. This quasi-experimental comparison helps to isolate the effect of growth conditions on the composition of the mushrooms. Protein content reveals a clear contrast: wild mushrooms such as Amanita zambiana (18.39 ± 0.15 g/100g dw) and Lactarius deliciosus (17.25 ± 0.05 g/100g dw) aim at moderate levels comparable to typical wild mushroom values. However, cultivated species like Pleurotus ostreatus (27.25 ± 0.88 g/100g dw) and especially Agaricus bisporus (34.05 ± 0.68 g/100g dw) exhibited significantly higher protein contents.The F statistic (0.033978) is much lower than its critical value (2.75871), and the p-value is almost 1.0. indicating that the overall proximate compositions (i.e., ash, carbohydrates, fiber, protein, fat, and moisture) do not differ significantly among the mushroom groups sampled.The p-value of 0.80796 is much higher than the conventional significance level of 0.05, and the F-value (0.061536) is well below the F-critical value (4.667193). This indicates that the difference in flavonoid content between wild mushrooms (mean ≈ 1.88) and home-grown mushrooms (mean ≈ 1.76) is not statistically significant. The carbohydrate content (expressed on a dry weight basis) is notably higher in wild mushrooms (63.76% dw) than in home‑grown mushrooms (48.67% dw). This indicate that wild growing conditions trigger more lipid storage, possibly as an adaptive energy reserve under environmental stress. The ash, representing total mineral content, is higher in home‑grown mushrooms (10.36% dw) compared to wild mushrooms (8.77% dw). This suggests that home‑grown mushrooms may benefit from mineral supplementation or more controlled nutrient availability in the substrate. In conclusion, home-grown mushrooms and wild mushrooms have a potential to provide a reliable source of nutrients especially among the poor and marginalized groups. Adapting cultivation methods to maximize the desirable nutritional traits of mushrooms can significantly contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. By leveraging the inherent qualities of both wild and home-grown mushrooms, policy makers can design integrated food systems that improve local nutrition.
Evaluating the effectiveness of agriculture insurance in enhancing financial stability, productivity, and resilience among farmers in Bindura in response to climate change.
(BUSE, 2025-06) Narwo, Duke T.
This thesis examines the impact of agricultural insurance on the financial stability, productivity, and resilience of farmers in Bindura, Zimbabwe, particularly in the face of climate change challenges. Through a mixed-methods approach involving quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, the study highlights significant barriers to insurance adoption, including high costs and lack of understanding. Despite high awareness levels, only a small percentage of farmers engage with insurance products. The findings suggest that targeted interventions, such as tailored insurance offerings and educational initiatives, are essential to enhance accessibility and trust in agricultural insurance. Ultimately, this research underscores the potential of insurance as a critical tool for promoting resilience and food security in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
An Assessment on the effectiveness of ISO 45001:2018 on combating workplace accidents in the construction industry of Zimbabwe. A case study of Masimba Construction at number 14 Tilbury Road Willowvale Harare.
(BUSE, 2025-06) Zireva, Renias
The research project is based on an assessment of occupation health and safety management systems in the construction industry in Zimbabwe targeting companies which are registered or classified under category A as they are expected to be the barometer of the industry in terms of adherence to systems and performance. A mixed method utilising both the literature review and questionnaires was used for analysing data. The research concludes that the level of implementation of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management systems is still limited in Zimbabwe. There is need for improvement in the implementation of formal OHS Management Systems such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration Series (OHSAS) 18001 at company level and for big Clients such as National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to provide incentives to companies implementing standards that are certifiable. The management of OHS issues is being carried out in an ad-hoc basis in most enterprises and there is need to improve the capacity of the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) departments. Further research concluded that a few companies in the construction industry in Zimbabwe adhere to regulations in order to prevent occupational health and hazards. Research recommends that policy makers need to strengthen the implementation of OHS regulations in Zimbabwe including regular follow-up of corporate performance and inspections in the construction sector. A further study to examine the implementation of OHS systems for emerging contractors in Zimbabwe is recommended.
The Effects of El Niño-Induced drought on household food and nutrition security in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe
(BUSE, 2025-06) Vera, Gilbert
This study investigates the multifaceted effects of El Niño-induced drought on households in Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe, focusing on food and nutrition security, household income, health and coping mechanisms. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research incorporates quantitative data from surveys of 200 Ward 1 households and qualitative insights from five focus group discussions and nine key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and cross tabulations), multiple linear regression and thematic analysis was employed. The findings reveal that over 65% of households in Muzarabani face moderate to severe food insecurity, with income level emerging as the most significant determinant. Households earning less than USD 100 were particularly vulnerable to food shortages, a pattern reinforced by qualitative data linking El Niño-induced droughts to declines in food and nutrition security. Regression analysis showed that drought exposure significantly reduced household income (B = -0.609, p < 0.001), while demographic factors like age, gender, and education had limited predictive value. Additionally, 55.5% of households reported health problems during drought, and food shortages were significantly associated with changes in healthcare services (t = 2.508, p = 0.013; χ² = 6.160, p = 0.013). Coping strategies included migration (54.5%), livestock sales (51.5%), borrowing (48.5%), and food aid (48.0%), while small business creation (44.5%) was less common due to capital and skills constraints. Demographic variations influenced strategy choice, with migration more prevalent among educated households and aid reliance declining with income. Qualitative themes emphasized livelihood diversification, social networks, and migration, while highlighting the long-term costs of asset loss, indebtedness, and dietary compromise. Based on the study’s findings, key recommendations include expanding income-generating opportunities through support for small businesses, vocational training, and access to microcredit to overcome capital and skill barriers. Strengthening food security requires targeted social protection, such as food subsidies and cash transfers, for the poorest households. Education investment, particularly at secondary and vocational levels, can boost adaptive capacity and diversify livelihoods. Health systems should be made drought-responsive through early warning systems and community health support. All resilience-building efforts should be localized, inclusive, and grounded in community participation and indigenous knowledge. In conclusion, an integrated, resilience-focused policy approach is essential to address the compounded impacts of drought on vulnerable households, whose short-term coping strategies remain insufficient for sustainable food and nutrition security.