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Access status: Open Access ,
The Impact of automation on bank reconciliation processes: a case study of CABS.
(BUSE, 2026-05) Curdye, Richmond Dear
This study examines the impact of automation on bank reconciliation processes and the resulting effects on cash flow management and financial health at the Central Africa Building Society (CABS) in Zimbabwe, responding to the limited empirical evidence on automated reconciliation within macro economically volatile, emerging-market contexts. Anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model, Agency Theory and the Baumol Cash Management Model, which respectively explain the adoption of reconciliation technology, the internal-control rationale for continuous monitoring, and the imperative of optimal liquidity management, the study adopted a mixed-methods case study design in which 50 finance, treasury and IT staff completed structured questionnaires (an 86% response rate) and seven of ten targeted senior personnel were interviewed; quantitative data were analysed descriptively in SPSS Version 27 with reliability confirmed by Cronbach's Alpha (overall α = 0.912), while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings show that automated reconciliation is approximately 70-85% faster than manual methods, achieves match rates above 99%, and gives real-time visibility of the cash position, which strengthens regulatory compliance, reduces fraud risk and supports institutional solvency; the alternative hypothesis that automation significantly improves the accuracy, efficiency, cash flow management and financial health of bank reconciliation at CABS was accepted across all analytical dimensions. The study recommends that CABS extend automation to branch level, formalise staff training and reconciliation governance policies, and invest in API-based real-time system integration, and it further recommends that future research pursue comparative, multi-institutional studies across Zimbabwean banks and a formal cost-benefit analysis of reconciliation automation to validate and extend these findings beyond a single case study.
Access status: Open Access ,
Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into disaster preparedness: a case study of Ward 15, Bikita District in Masvingo of Zimbabwe.
(BUSE, 2026) Chiona, Morgen
This study examines critically the integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into disaster preparedness in Ward 15, Bikita District, and Masvingo, Zimbabwe. The study aimed to produce a disaster preparedness plan that is feasible and socio-economically and ecologically sustainable. The study employed mixed-methods research design for data collection. In this study, questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather and document data from the respondents. Field data was collected through a survey of 145 respondents. Complementing the survey were Interviews and Focus group discussions. The analysis and interpretation of data was done through various statistical packages such as Chi Square and ANOVA. These were used to interpret the findings and draw conclusions on the set assumptions. The findings from this study show the different way communities use and interpret traditional knowledge to mitigate and respond to disasters. The findings provide a basis on how this knowledge can inform modern disaster management strategies. In the study, data obtained from questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions from the Ward 15 of Bikita District demonstrate the importance of incorporating IKS into disaster preparedness plans. It further revealed how IKS enhances community resilience and adaptive capacity. Based on the findings from questionnaires and interviews reveal there is need for a a move beyond simple and basic scientific approach to integration of IKS in disaster management and preparedness. In addition, they reveal that integrating IKS with scientific conventional methods improve early warning systems and ultimately reduce vulnerability to disasters. With the increasing intensity of natural hazards, the marginalization of IKS in addressing the underlying causes and impacts of disasters reveals that more needs to be done. The studies further reveal that while current disaster management techniques are commendable, they fail to address the sustainability of disaster preparedness. The research findings suggest ways to improve disaster preparedness. The study recommends a national disaster management plan that is Ward 15 specific and comprehensive enough. There is need to establish strong institutions such as Civil Protection Unit CPU or Teams responsible for disaster management that comprises IKS holders. The starting point would be to establish District Disaster Management Teams (DDMT) that should comprise of 10-15 project implementers. Their mandate would be crafting a Disaster Risk Reduction Framework that integrates IKS and maintaining disaster response mechanisms. These teams can be employed on a fulltime basis. The study proposes a model for collaborative disaster preparedness plan called the Disaster Risk Reduction Sustainability Pillars Framework Matrix (DRRSPF). This study contributes to the growing discourse on the value of indigenous knowledge in disaster risk reduction.
Access status: Open Access ,
Water, sanitation and hygiene challenges at rural health centres: case of Nyanyadzi Clinic, Chimanimani, Zimbabwe
(BUSE, 2026-05-30) Bindura. Loveness
Access to safe water, proper sanitation and good hygiene (WASH) is essential for delivering quality healthcare. However, many rural health facilities in Zimbabwe continue to struggle with unreliable water supplies, inadequate sanitation infrastructure and limited hygiene resources. Nyanyadzi Clinic in Chimanimani is one such facility where these challenges threaten patient safety, infection control and the overall quality of healthcare services. Understanding the real situation at the clinic is important for improving health outcomes and supporting national and global WASH standards. The study aimed to assess the challenges affecting WASH service delivery at Nyanyadzi Clinic and to identify practical strategies that could improve patient safety and healthcare quality. Specifically, the research examined water availability and reliability, sanitation facilities, hygiene materials and practices and the quality of water used for consumption. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, observation checklists and water sampling and testing. This approach made it possible to combine measurable evidence with the experiences and perceptions of healthcare workers and patients. The findings revealed that the clinic faces significant WASH challenges. Water supply was found to be unreliable and often dependent on unsafe sources, especially during the rainy season. Sanitation facilities were limited and in need of maintenance, while shortages of hygiene materials affected consistent handwashing and infection prevention practices. Water quality testing indicated potential risks to safe consumption. Despite these challenges, participants showed awareness of hygiene practices and expressed strong willingness to improve WASH conditions if adequate support, training and resources were provided. The study concludes that improving WASH services at Nyanyadzi Clinic is essential for protecting patients, healthcare workers and the surrounding community. Strengthening infrastructure, improving access to hygiene resources, providing training and enhancing collaboration between stakeholders are key steps toward sustainable improvement. Continued commitment to WASH standards in rural healthcare facilities will play a critical role in reducing preventable diseases and improving healthcare delivery in Zimbabwe.
Access status: Open Access ,
Assessment of post-harvest loss in maize value chain in Ward 5 (Chingwere), Mhondoro-Ngezi district in Mashonaland West province
(BUSE, 2026-06) Mawoko, Ishmael
Maize is the cornerstone of food security in Zimbabwe, supplying 60 to 65% of caloric intake for average households. However, smallholder farmers, who produce 70 to 80% of national output, consistently suffer substantial post-harvest losses (PHL) that undermine labour investment, food availability, and income stability, yet ward-specific, empirically quantified data to inform context-appropriate interventions remain scarce. This study assessed the extent, causes, and impacts of PHL in the maize value chain among smallholder farmers in Ward 5 (Chingwere), Mhondoro-Ngezi District. Employing a mixed-methods case study design, the research administered a structured household survey to 128 farmers, conducted 15 key informant interviews, and performed grain quality assessments on a sub-sample of 40 households. Guided by the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Diffusion of Innovations Theory, quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Total PHL averaged 35% of harvested grain, with storage the greatest hotspot (19%), followed by drying (6%) and shelling (4%). Traditional granaries (dura) caused 23% storage losses, whereas hermetic bags reduced losses to 5%. The average household lost 567 kg of maize per season (USD 160 to 199), translating to ward-level annual losses of USD 58,720 to USD 73,033. Only 19% of households achieved Grade A quality, with Grade C grain suffering 47% price discounts, and 33% of sampled grain had aflatoxin contamination exceeding safe limits, significantly associated with bare-ground drying. High-loss households were food self-sufficient for only 5 months compared to 9 months for low-loss households, confirming a self-perpetuating poverty trap (r = -0.62, p < 0.001). The primary barriers to adopting hermetic technologies were upfront cost (82%), limited local availability (65%), and lack of knowledge (59%). The study concludes that PHL in Ward 5 is unacceptably high and urgently requires intervention, particularly in storage and drying. Recommendations include a subsidised hermetic bag distribution programme, gender-sensitive post-harvest extension, investment in community drying infrastructure, and improved market incentives for grain quality. Reducing PHL from 35% to 20% would extend household food self-sufficiency by approximately two months, an economic and humanitarian imperative.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Role of digital financial literacy in enhancing retail investor participation on the Zimbabwe stock exchange.
(BUSE, 2026-06) Chiriseri, Fadzai
This study investigated the role of digital financial literacy in enhancing retail investor participation on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, with specific attention to herding behaviour and overconfidence bias as moderating variables. Despite the digitalisation of brokerage services through platforms such as C-Trade and ZSE Direct, retail investor participation remains disproportionately low compared to institutional investors, raising critical questions about investors' readiness to engage effectively with digital trading platforms. The study employed a descriptive survey design and collected primary data from active retail investors using the C-Trade and ZSE Direct platforms. Proportional quota sampling was applied based on platform market shares. Data were obtained through structured questionnaires distributed electronically via platform communication channels. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and moderated regression analyses were conducted using Microsoft Excel's Data Analysis ToolPak. The findings revealed that retail investors on the ZSE demonstrate moderately high levels of digital financial literacy. Digital financial literacy significantly predicted more accurate risk perception, more realistic return expectations, and greater portfolio diversification. Critically, digital financial literacy moderated the negative effect of herding behaviour on risk perception, indicating that digitally literate investors are less susceptible to crowd-following tendencies. However, digital financial literacy did not significantly moderate the relationship between overconfidence bias and portfolio diversification. The study concludes that digital financial literacy enhances retail investor participation on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange through both direct effects on investment decision quality and indirect moderation of herding bias. Recommendations include structured digital financial literacy programmes, behavioural nudge features on trading platforms, curriculum integration, and targeted gender responsive outreach.