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

The repository aims to showcase the intellectual output of BUSE, increase the visibility and impact of our community's scholarship and preserve these works for long term access and use.To contribute your work or learn more, please contact the repository team using of the following contact details:

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 9

Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Illegal immigrants and their implications on penitentiary protocol in SADC: a comparative analysis of South Africa Correctional Services and Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services
(BUSE, 2024) Mpofu, Sherpard
This study explores the impact of illegal immigration on penitentiary protocol within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, with a focus on a comparative analysis of South Africa s Correctional Services and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS). The research examines the challenges and implications that arise from the detention of illegal immigrants in the respective correctional systems, particularly in terms of operational efficiency, security, and legal compliance. The conceptual framework analysed the impact of illegal immigrants on penitentiary systems in SADC, focusing on prison management, resource allocation, and legal protocols through a comparative study of South Africa Correctional Services (SACS) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS). It highlighted the challenges posed to correctional systems by immigration dynamics. Both countries have established legal frameworks aimed at protecting the rights of illegal immigrants, but the practical implementation of these frameworks is hindered by issues such as overcrowding, limited resources, insufficient staff training, and inadequate interagency cooperation. Through an exploratory mixed method approach, including qualitative interviews with correctional officers and quantitative data on detention practices, the study highlighted the key differences and commonalities in the management of illegal immigrants from sampling of 200 participates within the two systems. Findings suggest that while South Africa's Correctional Services benefits from stronger legislative frameworks and better staff training, Zimbabwe's ZPCS struggles with resource constraints and a less qualified workforce. The cooperation between Zimbabwe and South Africa in addressing migration challenges demonstrates both significant strengths and notable weaknesses. While the two countries have made strides in fostering bilateral agreements to manage migration and enhance security, disparities in policy implementation and resource allocation often undermine their efforts. Migration patterns, such as the East South Channel from the Horn of Africa, the DRC, Malawi, and Zambia into South Africa, are primarily driven by economic disparities, political instability, and conflict in the region. These movements highlight the urgent need for a unified, region-wide approach to migration management that balances humanitarian considerations with security imperatives. The research emphasizes the need for improved policy implementation, better resource allocation, enhanced staff training, and stronger interagency collaboration to mitigate the adverse effects of illegal immigration on penitentiary systems in both countries. Ultimately, the study proposes recommendations for both nations to strengthen their correctional practices and improve the treatment and rehabilitation of illegal immigrants within their facilities.
Access status: Open Access ,
Challenges and opportunities caused by women and children at Tongogara refugee settlement
(BUSE, 2025) Mpota, Shyleen
This study investigates the challenges and opportunities faced by women and children at Tongogara Refugee Settlement. Using a mixed-methods approach, we identify significant challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and psychosocial support services, including concerns around gender-based violence, economic empowerment, child protection, and safety. These challenges have devastating effects on well-being, compromising health outcomes, educational achievements, mental health, and quality of life. The research examines the existing policy framework and identifies opportunities for improvement, including training, community awareness, and psychosocial support. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, humanitarian organisations, and stakeholders addressing complex refugee issues.
Access status: Open Access ,
Actors and their interests in perpetuating armed conflict: the case of Democratic Republic of Congo, 2010-2024.
(BUSE, 2024) Mbugo, Brenda
The study investigates the factors perpetuating armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), focusing on four objectives: identifying key actors, exploring socio-economic factors, assessing resource exploitation, and evaluating governance effectiveness. Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data was collected through a Google Form questionnaire targeting 34 respondents, and qualitative insights were gathered via semi-structured interviews with 15 key informants, including researchers, government officials, and diplomats. The findings reveal that local and international actors play key roles in sustaining conflict, with strong correlations (r > 0.75) identified between actor dynamics and conflict perpetuation. Regression analysis showed socio-economic disparities and historical grievances significantly predict armed group recruitment and community divisions (p < 0.05). Resource exploitation emerged as a critical driver of violence, supported by qualitative evidence of both local and foreign actors benefiting from resource extraction. Weak governance and corruption were also found to exacerbate instability by hindering conflict resolution efforts. The study integrating quantitative methods, correlation and regression, with qualitative thematic analysis, the study highlights the interconnected nature of economic, political, and social factors in fueling conflict. Practical recommendations for governance reforms, equitable resource management, and inclusive socio-economic policies were provided. The findings emphasize the need for international cooperation and locally driven peacebuilding to address the root causes of conflict in the DRC. Further research is suggested on women’s roles in peacebuilding, regional dynamics, and the long-term socio-economic impacts of conflict.
Access status: Open Access ,
A Crisis or structural violence? education during covid 19 lockdown: a case of Epworth rural communities
(BUSE, 2024) Mandikiyana, Cynthia C.
Education has been declared a human right from the time of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The necessity for this human right to be provided for all and equally is very important. This is not only to ensure that learners have the same opportunity to learn but also to allow for personal development which will likely cause innovation, which will lead to sustainable development and consequently sustainable peace. This research was necessitated by the Covid 19 crisis that saw most of the world go on lockdown as a way of controlling the spread of the virus. This lockdown included the closure of schools for months. Mixed research was done using both lockdown qualitative and quantitative techniques. A case study survey was done using Epworth rural community. The main findings being that the COVID-19 pandemic did in fact affect education in vulnerable communities. It was however, observed that most of the effects were mainly based on the various forms of structural violence that already existed in the schools in vulnerable communities. As other scholars mentioned that sometimes structural violence is not noticed the way that direct violence can be seen, the lockdown exposed a lot of this structural violence in rural schools. From the poor infrastructure, lack of technology and other disparities that exist between rural schools and urban schools. Based on the findings of this research, the researcher recommends that the Government of Zimbabwe make education a priority, as it affects all facets of the political, economic, social, and technological systems. School authorities and parents should also take active roles in trying to develop the schools.
Access status: Open Access ,
Awareness and use of persistent identifiers in research data repositories by academic librarians in Zimbabwe
(Taylor and Francis, 2026-05-05) Chiparausha, Blessing; Chigwada, Josline; Kasiroori, Justice
The study investigates the awareness and use of persistent identifiers (PIDs) by academic librarians in Zimbabwe’s research data repositories. PIDs are essential in ensuring the discoverability, accessibility, and citability of research data. However, little is known about the level of awareness and use of these tools among academic librarians in Zimbabwe. A sequential mixed methods approach was employed, beginning with a questionnaire administered to scholarly communication librarians who were purposively selected. Quantitative data from the questionnaires provided an overview of the current landscape regarding PIDs in Zimbabwean higher education institutions. This informed the design of a focus group discussion which allowed for a deeper exploration of the themes identified in the survey, facilitating an understanding of the challenges of using PIDs within universities. The findings indicated that although the librarians were aware of PIDs, no institution has an institutional research data repository in the country. Challenges that were faced in integrating PIDs include lack of expertise, unclear policies, and infrastructure costs. The study will be significant in informing policy development, capacity-building initiatives, and creating guidelines for integrating PIDs into research workflows.