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Access status: Open Access ,
An Analysis of plant performance indicators for enhancing recovery efficiency in Platinum Group Metals processing.
(BUSE, 2026-06) Mukumba, Leticia
This study addressed the challenge of inconsistent platinum recovery at Mimosa Mining Company, where operational decisions were often based on assumptions rather than empirical evidence. A log-linear (log-normal) regression model was developed using historical plant data on feed grade, concentrate grade, tail grade, and grind size to quantify their influence on recovery. The model satisfied normality assumptions on the log scale, corrected for mild heteroscedasticity with robust standard errors, and was validated out of sample. Key findings included a negative elasticity for feed grade (higher feed does not always improve recovery) and a positive elasticity for grind size (coarser grinding may increase recovery), challenging conventional industry beliefs. These insights were translated into actionable recommendations for feed blending and grind optimization, providing process engineers with an evidence-based framework to stabilize and enhance recovery. The study demonstrates that a well-specified statistical model can replace guesswork, reduce operational risks, and support data-informed decision-making in PGM processing.
Access status: Open Access ,
Investigating the efficacy of existing laws and policies in combating human trafficking in Zimbabwe. A case study of Mashonaland Central province (2023-2025).
(BUSE, 2026-10-12) Matubu, Phineas
This study sought to investigate the efficacy of current laws and policies in combating human trafficking in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe between 2023-2025. The study used a pragmatic philosophy and convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 55 respondents including Zimbabwe Republic Police officers, NGO staff, community members and local government officials through mixed questionnaires and qualitative data from nine in-depth key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics in the form of percentages, means and standard deviations were presented in pie charts, bar graphs and tables while qualitative findings were presented as verbatim quotes. The findings revealed poverty, unemployment and economic instability as the main push factors for human trafficking compounded by corruption, porous borders, low public awareness and lack of education. Legislative instruments such as the Trafficking in Persons Act [Chapter 9:25] and its 2023 Amendment and the National Plan of Action were rated as only partially to moderately effective, exposing a significant implementation gap. The main challenges identified were acute resource scarcity, systemic corruption, weak inter-agency coordination, inadequate victim support services and insufficient specialised training. The research found that Zimbabwe has relatively strong laws against trafficking, but operational failures and shortfalls in political will to invest in enforcement and protection undermine their effectiveness. Recommendations highlighted the need for increased state funding, mandatory anti-corruption measures, ongoing specialised training, institutionalised coordination and the creation of provincial victim shelters to narrow the gap between legislation and lived reality.
Access status: Open Access ,
Assessing community perceptions and attitudes towards waste reduction through recycling programs in Chinhoyi
(BUSE, 2026-06) Timoti, Ethel
Waste management has become a major environmental degradation factor in developing countries for the past decades. Inconsistent garbage collection has led to illegal waste dumping along roadsides, rivers and waste burning which results in drainage blockages, diseases and spread of smelly odors. Recycling has been viewed as an efficient and effective tool that can be used to minimize the amount of municipal solid waste that enters into dumping sites and some end up being burnt. Perceptions and attitudes of people in the community seems to be crucial as their points of understanding solid waste management ultimately play an important role in producing answers to environmental problems. For a successful recycling initiative, householders’ participation cannot be ruled out. In this study, the participation of local people in recycling programmes within Chinhoyi was tested by investigating the awareness, attitude and willingness levels of householders to participate. A total of 92 questionnaires were administered to residents from low-density and high-density areas of Chinhoyi. This was done through simple random sampling technique. Interviews were also conducted using selective sampling techniques with the 8 key informants who are already into recycling within the study area Community Based Organisations (CBOs). Moreover, the collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27 after being coded in Microsoft Excel, to denote frequencies and percentages as well as p-values and thematic analyses. 59% of the respondents had knowledge on recyclable materials although the waste separation at household level was still low despite their awareness levels. Respondents from low-density areas demonstrated a positive attitude towards recycling programmes and their participation and support towards CBOs was effective. This was determined by their access to recycling infrastructure and awareness information. Respondents from high-density areas and CBOs indicated that they required financial incentives, education and awareness programs in order for them to highly participate. In terms of significant relationships between variables, area of residence, income and educational level had significant association with practice for their p-values < 0.05. Conclusively, there is a need for collaboration of stakeholders involved in waste management to address community perceptions and attitudes towards waste recycling. This can be done by providing recycling education and emphasizing the importance of community engagement. This will address the identified barriers, while also leveraging the existing enthusiasm among residents for waste reduction in Chinhoyi through recycling programs.
Access status: Open Access ,
Design and implementation of a TINML-based predictive maintenance system for ball mill condition monitoring
(BUSE, 2026-06-30) 2. Haparimwe, Takudzwa
Ball mills are critical, high-value assets in mineral processing plants, and their unplanned failure causes costly downtime and safety hazards, particularly for the small-scale mining operations common in Zimbabwe that lack access to cloud-based monitoring infrastructure. This project presents the design and implementation of a low-cost, TinyML-based predictive maintenance system for ball mill condition monitoring that performs fault classification and severity assessment directly on an embedded microcontroller. A Raspberry Pi Pico W acquires vibration, temperature, current, and voltage data, from which thirteen time- and frequency-domain features are extracted. A Random Forest classifier, trained offline and exported to run on the device, distinguishes normal operation from imbalance, looseness, and overheating faults, while rule-based thresholds detect electrical and thermal anomalies. The model achieved 91.98 percent cross-validated accuracy and a 91.65 percent macro F1-score while using only 16.7 percent of the available flash memory and inferring in real time. Telemetry is published to the Adafruit IO cloud platform for remote monitoring, and local light-emitting diodes and a liquid crystal display provide on-site alerts. The results confirm that accurate, edge-based predictive maintenance is feasible on resource-constrained, low-cost hardware.
Access status: Open Access ,
An Evaluation of the role of women in peace-building diplomacy in Zimbabwe since the 2023 elections
(BUSE, 2026) Chigowe, Danai
This study explored the role of women in peacebuilding diplomacy in Zimbabwe following the harmonised elections of 2023. The research was motivated by the growing recognition of women’s contributions to peacebuilding processes and the persistent challenges that limit their engagement in both formal and informal peacebuilding structures. Despite national, regional, and international commitments to gender equality, women continue to face barriers that constrain their meaningful participation in peacebuilding and decision-making processes. The study examined the roles women play in peacebuilding diplomacy, identified challenges to their participation, and assessed the effectiveness of institutional mechanisms supporting their involvement in Zimbabwe. Framed by Feminist International Relations Theory and Social Constructivism, the research provided a lens for understanding gendered power dynamics and the influence of social norms on engagement with peacebuilding processes. A qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory research design was adopted. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, open-ended questionnaires, and document analysis. Participants included a woman parliamentarian, representatives from civil society organisations, women’s rights activists, and youth leaders. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings show that women are critical actors in peacebuilding diplomacy through conflict prevention, mediation, civic education, advocacy, reconciliation initiatives, and community engagement programmes. The study also found that women parliamentarians, civil society organisations, women’s rights activists, and young women continue to advance peace, dialogue, and social cohesion in the post-2023 political environment. However, obstacles such as political intimidation, gender discrimination, cultural barriers, lack of funding, limited mentorship, and underrepresentation in decision-making structures continue to hinder their participation.. The study concludes that women remain critical actors in Zimbabwe’s peacebuilding efforts. It recommends strengthening policy implementation, increasing funding for women-led initiatives, expanding leadership development programmes, and enhancing women’s representation in decision-making and peacebuilding structures.