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Access status: Open Access ,
Developing strategic leadership adaptability framework for managing digital transformation and AI-driven disruption at Dallaglio Investments Zimbabwe
(BUSE, 2026-06-30) Senzere, Artley A
The study looked at strategic leadership and governance adaptability in the digital transformation and disruption brought about by artificial intelligence (AI) at Dallaggio Investments Zimbabwe. The study was driven by the need for greater AI use within investment firms and the risk of poor leadership and governance to drive effective digital transformation. The current literature indicates organisations are still investing in AI technologies but are struggling to make a successful transformation because of leadership, governance and adaptability issues. The study aimed to explore how adaptive leadership practices are perceived, analyse challenges arising from the disruption caused by AI, understand the impact of leadership competencies on digital transformation outcomes, analyse governance and board oversight processes, and create a framework for context-specific strategic leadership and governance adaptability. The research method used was a sequential exploratory mixed-methods research design, while the theories used were Dynamic Capabilities Theory, Transformational Leadership Theory, and Institutional Theory. The instruments used for collecting data were semi-structured interviews and a structured questionnaire, with data type being qualitative. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistical techniques were applied to analyse the data. The results showed that adaptive leadership practices have a positive impact on the agility, innovation ability, and adaptability of employees in the process of digital transformation of the organization. The study also found that AI and its disruption impact governance, tech, and leadership challenges such as lack of AI literacy, inadequate governance structures, and resistance to organisational change. Some of the leadership competencies that had a positive impact on transformation results were strategic foresight, agility, and ethical decision-making. However, the research noted that such flaws as inadequate board oversight, AI governance, and fiduciary accountability structures were noted. The study identified a need for combining adaptive leadership practices and effective governance accountability mechanisms in order to successfully implement digital transformation. Henceforth, a strategic leadership and governance adaptability framework for Dallaglio Investments was designed to be used for the integration of responsible AI and sustainable organisational transformation.
Access status: Open Access ,
Enhancing road safety through integration of technology and community engagement in Zimbabwe
(BUSE, 2026-06-30) Whacha, Getrude G
The purpose of this study was to develop a model that enhances road safety through integration of technology and community engagement in Zimbabwe. The study was triggered by the realisation that Chitungwiza, one of the busiest commuter corridors, the Seke Road, has become emblematic of deterioration, with potholes, congestion, and inadequate lighting contributing to frequent accidents there by losing hundreds of lives in the road and also leading to thousands of injuries. Precisely, the study sought to identify the principal contributors to road safety challenges in Chitungwiza districts and to evaluate the acceptability, usability, and operational effectiveness of selected low- and medium-cost road safety technologies. The research also aimed to determine the social, institutional, and economic barriers that affect sustained community engagement in road safety initiatives. The fourth goal of the study was to co-design an integrated road safety model with stakeholders, producing a model ready for institutional adoption and scaling and lastly to develop a sustainability and financing plan that supports model durability for 10–20 years. The major theory underpinning the study entail the Safe System Approach which originated from Sweden's Vision Zero policy (1997) and the Dutch Sustainable Safety philosophy. Literature reviewed confirmed contextual and geographical gaps filled by this research. Grounded in a pragmatic philosophical framework, this study employed a mixed-methods concurrent triangulation design, further adopting an abductive research approach. Data were gathered from a diverse sample comprising 180 survey respondents and 15 key qualitative informants that entail municipal engineers, ward councillors, law enforcement officers, representatives from transport associations, and Civil Society Advocates, among others. The study demonstrated that obstacles to road safety in Chitungwiza are primarily attributable to a confluence of infrastructural shortcomings, problematic human conduct, and deficiencies in regulatory enforcement. These entail over speeding, inattentive vehicle operation, substandard road upkeep, poor lighting and widespread occurrence of potholes. The study also revealed that acceptable, usable, and operational effective low- and medium-cost road safety technologies comprise of Speed feedback signs, Geographic Information System (GIS)-based hazard mapping systems and Mobile crash reporting applications. The study showed that the social, institutional, and economic barriers that affect sustained community engagement in road safety initiatives comprise of lack of awareness, lack of trust in authorities, limited access to information or technology and time constraints. The research also revealed that the comprehensive road safety model, specifically devised for Chitungwiza, established a unified framework that seamlessly integrates public involvement, robust institutional backing, enhancements to infrastructure, and technological advancements alongside educational programs into a cohesive and mutually beneficial system. The final result of the research showed that the strategic plan for sustainability and financing in Chitungwiza is fundamentally built upon four interconnected pillars that comprise of diversified financial streams, robust mechanisms for generating income such as traffic penalties, strategic capacity building and comprehensive training and rigorous monitoring and evaluation protocols. The study concluded that the predominant challenges to road safety within Chitungwiza are primarily attributable to deeply ingrained human factors. Another conclusion was also made that Speed feedback indicators and Geographic Information System (GIS) based hazard mapping platforms are effective low- and medium-cost road safety technologies. A further conclusion was reached that enduring community participation is significantly hampered by insufficient public trust in governing bodies, inadequate public understanding and restricted access to pertinent information. A recommendation was made to Government authorities to implement more rigorous speed regulations through heightened patrols, automated detection systems, and consistent penalty application.
Access status: Open Access ,
A working model towards taxing the informal sector: the case of Harare Rezende street tuck-shops.
(BUSE, 2025-04-30) Jazi, Rutendo P
This study investigates the feasibility of developing a working model for taxing the informal sector in Zimbabwe, using the numerous tuck-shops operating on Harare's Ruzende Street as a specific case. The informal sector represents a significant portion of Zimbabwe's economy, yet its contribution to the national revenue base remains largely untapped. This research aims to understand the operational dynamics, challenges, and perceptions of tuck-shop owners regarding taxation, alongside the perspectives of key stakeholders within the Harare City Council and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA). Through a qualitative approach employing face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions with tuck-shop operators, local authority officials, and tax authority representatives, this study seeks to identify the key obstacles and opportunities associated with formalizing revenue collection from this segment. The research explores existing knowledge and attitudes towards taxation among informal traders, their current record-keeping practices, and their capacity to comply with tax regulations. Simultaneously, it examines the current policies and challenges faced by the Harare City Council and ZIMRA in engaging with and taxing the informal sector. The findings of this study are expected to inform the development of a context-specific taxation model that is both effective in revenue generation and sensitive to the unique characteristics and constraints of informal businesses. The research will explore potential simplified tax regimes, appropriate assessment methods, and the role of technology in facilitating compliance. Furthermore, it will investigate the support mechanisms and incentives that could encourage informal traders to participate in the formal tax system, ultimately contributing to enhanced local development and national revenue mobilization. This case study of Harare's Ruzende Street tuck-shops offers valuable insights applicable to broader efforts aimed at integrating the informal sector into the formal tax framework in Zimbabwe and similar developing economies.
Access status: Open Access ,
Rural women’s adaptive agency: sustaining food security and agricultural production efficiency under climate stress in Murehwa District, Zimbabwe
(BUSE, 2026-06) Mapika, Clemence Tineyi
The smallholder farming system in sub-Saharan Africa is in crisis due to climate variability‚ soil degradation‚ and the increasing cost of agricultural inputs․ In the Murehwa District of Zimbabwe‚ these shocks manifest in transitory household food insecurity․ Finally‚ socio-technical changes identify enabling adaptive capacity‚ with SAPs being framed as de-risking instruments for climate‚ but with uneven uptake owing to gender asymmetries in SAP design and access․ Smallholder units are typically described as a homogeneous aggregation in the climate-impact literature‚ and therefore the structural resource restriction and human labour burden of independent female heads and married female plot managers under customary male control are blurred․ The overall objective was to analyse rural women's adaptive agency‚ technology adoption and production efficiencies under climate stress conditions in Murehwa District‚ Zimbabwe‚ to provide evidence to inform gender-responsive climate adaptation policies․ Specific objectives included: (1) estimating the causal effect of women's SAP adoption decisions on household food security; (2) identifying socio-economic and institutional constraints to women's SAP adoption; and (3) examining differences by gender in the effect of climate stressors on the reallocation of labour‚ production costs and production technical efficiency․ We adopted a quantitative‚ cross-sectional survey research design and collected data based on the agricultural household modelling framework․ A multi-stage stratified random and quota sampling of 12 villages was used to gather micro-level data from a verified and audited representative sample of 101 smallholder households․ First‚ we used an Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA) estimator to estimate the average treatment effect of adoption on HFIAS‚ correcting for self-selection bias․ Second‚ we applied a maximum likelihood binary probit model and a non-linear Blinder-Oaxaca (Fairlie's) decomposition to decompose the gendered technology adoption gap into asset endowments and structural institutional return effects․ Third‚ we estimated technical‚ allocative‚ and economic efficiency frontiers under environmental stress using a non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and a farm-budgeting gross margin framework․ Qualitative data collected through KIIs and FGDs also helped triangulate the econometric estimates from both project and comparison areas․ The double-strong IPWRA models found a statistically important positive causal effect of women's SAP uptake on household food security mediated through a large and negative effect on baseline HFIAS score․ Cumulative years of farming experience and the size of the FTE labour pool were statistically important positive predictors of adoption in the Probit models (γ = 0․284‚ p < 0․05)․ Distance to commercial input markets was a major non-negotiable barrier: a 1 km increase in distance was associated with a 1․8 percentage point lower baseline probability of technology adoption․ The Blinder-Oaxaca non-linear decomposition showed this barrier accounted for the 16․7 percentage point technology adoption gap․ Decomposing this gap empirically‚ this study isolated its structural-return and endowment effect (p < 0․01)‚ revealing that: 70․7% of the gap in women's outcomes was due to structural discrimination; women's returns to formal agricultural extension services and credit conduits were considerably lower than men's at the same pre-existing endowment levels․ The asymmetric climate vulnerability in agricultural production was demonstrated by the independent female managers' considerably higher average labour shock score (μ₂ = 3․030) during climatic shocks than those of men․ This indicates that most households could not hire external labour when faced with adverse climate shocks when liquidity restrictions did not allow for hiring external labour․ 5․ The adoption of SAPs (which are a source of liquidity) led to a reduction of total variable production inputs by USD 98․070 per hectare (p < 0․10) and considerably improved technical efficiency (μ₀= 0․612 and μ₁= 0․748‚ p < 0․01) and allocative efficiency (μ₀= 0․485 and μ₁= 0․693‚ p < 0․01) through successful substitution of commercial synthetic chemicals with biological organic structures․ Scaling up sustainable intensification without uniform technology transfer will require efforts to induce long-term resilience through the MLAWRD that: (a) invests in inclusive‚ decentralized village-level input supply hubs to reduce spatial transaction costs; (b) guarantees gender-symmetrical representation and provides support for female-led peer-to-peer extension training networks to counteract gendered information asymmetries; and (c) invests in subsidized‚ scale-appropriate mechanization (e.g. two-wheel direct-seeders‚ ripping implements) to soften the impact of rising labour intensity on independent female smallholders․
Access status: Open Access ,
An exploration of effective retention strategies to curb staff turnover in a competitive environment: a case of PSMAS
(BUSE, 2023-11-30) Chirongoma, Peter
Staff turnover is a global challenge for organisations and does not have a one-size-fits-all panacea but rather should be addressed contextually. The purpose of this study was to explore effective retention strategies to curb staff turnover challenges in the current competitive environment at PSMAS. Retention strategies were explored in other studies, but there is a contextual gap in retention strategies for medical insurance businesses in Zimbabwe. The current study therefore seeks to explore effective retention strategies in the Zimbabwean context. Mixed methods and pragmatic philosophical approaches were adopted because they explore the depth of qualitative and the objectivity of quantitative approaches. Triangulation was also adopted to gather data from 46 participants who include current employees, former employees, and key managerial personnel through document analysis, interviews, and closed and open-ended questionnaires. Triangulation's major advantage to the current study is that it enhances the validity of the study. The research found that effective retention strategies include but are not limited to competitive remuneration, creation of a positive work environment, attractive recognition and reward programs, improving the employer brand, enhanced effective communication practices, and promotion of transparency. The research concluded that current retention practices at PSMAS are not effective, and staff intention to leave is high; therefore, there is a need to implement effective retention strategies as highlighted in research findings. The study findings imply that, if adopted and applied may improve service delivery to members and service providers, and aid the achievement of national development strategies.