https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/222 2026-04-21T09:01:30Z 2026-04-21T09:01:30Z Sephath Mlambo https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6097 2024-05-08T12:51:44Z 2017-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Demographic profiling of retail consumers in Zimbabwe Authors: Sephath Mlambo Abstract: This paper explores the notion of consumer demographic profiling of Zimbabwe by using census and survey data from Zimbabwe’s statistical agency ZIMSTAT. Certain trends emerged by examining secondary data mostly from 1962 when the first comprehensive census was conducted for Africans and non-Africans in Zimbabwe. A number of significant features come to light including age/sex composition, household size, population distribution and the changing role of women in the population and for decision makers within households. Conclusions and recommendations have been made concerning significant implications for all types of retailers of products and services.

2017-06-01T00:00:00Z Sephath Mlambo Barbra Marufu Tawanda Manenji https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5748 2023-07-04T11:13:07Z 2016-08-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The impact of adopting e-government as a mechanism to enhance accountability as well as transparent conduct within public institutions Authors: Barbra Marufu; Tawanda Manenji Abstract: This study examines the impact of adopting e-government as a mechanism to enhance accountability as well as transparent conduct within public institutions in Zimbabwe. There is a belief that e-government brings about better change in governance issues through active disclosure of governance information. The research found out that e-government in Zimbabwe though still being nurtured, has better prospects and there is great need for clearly setting and meeting a conducive environment for it to flourish. That is a set of pre-requirements need to be assessed before trying to implement e-government into full swing. Zimbabwe lacks an unanimous e-government strategy across its ministries hence the existence of disparities in e-government adoption within the country – some ministries are more advanced while others only exhibit the first initial stages of e-government. However, the adoption of e-government in Zimbabwe has been hampered by a plethora of challenges ranging from politics, economics, social and technological. Among them include inadequate or weak legislative frameworks guiding and directing e-government implementation, budget constraints, digital divide as well as technological incompetence. The study also makes some recommendations as to how e-government prospects can be fully attained and such remedies among others include the passing of a comprehensive IT policy which cut across all government ministries, embracing Public Private Partnerships in building IT infrastructure, and redefining government’s top priorities and focus much on e-government investment. The paper also notes the effects of poor governance to a country. Zimbabwe’s e-government strategy if managed properly, would also reduce government external debt, improve service delivery, promote economic development, and increase public accountability and transparency within the public sector.

2016-08-01T00:00:00Z Barbra Marufu Tawanda Manenji Mlambo, Sephath https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/3665 2022-06-27T13:49:07Z 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Dynamics, experiences and aspirations of flea market traders in Gweru Authors: Mlambo, Sephath Abstract: The flea markets in the central business district of Gweru are part of a widespread form of informal market activity occurring in many countries and operating at various stages of economic development. This study focused on regulated flea market activities housed in premises run by the Gweru City Council or owned by private individuals. The main units of interest were the traders themselves. This focus on the traders themselves allowed for the characterisation of flea market trading processes as informal entrepreneurial business operations. The literature portrayed informal flea markets in several economies as business activities in flux. Some forty traders out of thousands operating in Gweru central business district were sampled using nonprobability methods. Unstructured interviews were conducted until saturation was achieved. The interviews were subsequently transcribed to aid analysis which in turn relied on NVivo 11, a computer software for analysing qualitative data. For this situated study, grounded theory was chosen to allow for systematic analysis leading to the production of a conceptual framework concerning the traders themselves and the businesses they were involved in. The resulting framework was represented in a core category labelled entrepreneurial compass. This core category and its representative typologies formed important pillars for recommendations affecting the crafting of public policy concerning informal flea market trading. The insights that emerged from the study were, however, conditioned upon the localised nature of the study in the confinement of Gweru CBD in central Zimbabwe.

2018-01-01T00:00:00Z Mlambo, Sephath Mlambo, Sephath Marufu, Barbra https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/1492 2022-06-27T13:49:06Z 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Choice and patronage: a study of retail consumers in Zimbabwe Authors: Mlambo, Sephath; Marufu, Barbra Abstract: This research focused on one specific consumer group of lecturer at Midlands State University in the city of Gweru in central Zimbabwe in order to investigate their shopping choice and patronage behaviour for a restricted range of basic commodities and foodstuffs. The research also sought to gain some insight the levels of awareness of environmental issues among an elite segment of Zimbabwean consumers. It also sought to find out how demographic characteristics [age, gender, income, marital status, and education and household size] influence patronage and shopping behaviour. A positivist perspective was adopted. Data was collected on aspects of shopping behaviour and relationships patterns and regularities were described as evidenced by the data gathered. A survey was carried out to answer ‘what’, ‘who’ ‘where’ ‘how much’ or ‘how many’ to understand the grocery shopping behaviour of the lecturers. Questionnaires were used to collect standardized data from the population in an economical way. Such data allowed for comparison and analysis using descriptive statistics. The research found out that the targeted group has exhibit a greater concern and awareness of health and the environment. The research also found out that shoppers are attracted by low competitive prices, staff attitude towards customers, ambiance, quality of products, variety and parking space.

2015-01-01T00:00:00Z Mlambo, Sephath Marufu, Barbra