https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/87 2026-04-08T22:12:11Z 2026-04-08T22:12:11Z Chikerema, Arthur Fidelis Chakunda, Vincent Mukunyadze, Tinashe https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6926 2025-11-10T12:57:01Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring the impact of locking down citizen’s voice on citizen participation in local government budgeting during COVID-19 public restrictions in Zimbabwe Authors: Chikerema, Arthur Fidelis; Chakunda, Vincent; Mukunyadze, Tinashe Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unmatched challenges for citizen participation worldwide in local government budgeting processes. Zimbabwe in particular was grappling with the pandemic’s effects and pre-existing governance issues. The pandemic ignited the central government to put COVID-19 public restrictions militating on citizen engagement in the budgeting process. The implemented measures were aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. While these measures were necessary for public health, they unintentionally constrained citizens’ ability to be unreservedly involved in local government decision-making. The paper employed a qualitative case study research design, employing interviews, Google Forms, and document analysis, to gather data exploring the experiences and perspectives of citizens, civil society organizations, and local government officials regarding the repercussions of constrained citizen participation in local government budgeting during the pandemic. The argument was hinged on the participatory theory based on two broad views: the normative and the instrumentalist perspectives. The paper notes that COVID-19 restrictions severely constrained citizen participation, limiting public input, deliberation, and accountability opportunities. The inability to convene public meetings, consultations, and workshops weakened the citizen-government engagement process, hindering transparency and the ability of citizens to influence resource allocation and stewardship. Furthermore, the restricted participation by marginalized communities exacerbates existing inequalities due to the technological divide hindering their ability to voice their concerns and interests in the budgeting processes. The paper calls for the exigent need for inventive methodologies to guarantee comprehensive and evocative citizen participation, by leveraging digital technologies and promoting alternative channels for engagement to augment citizen participation in local government budgeting.

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z Chikerema, Arthur Fidelis Chakunda, Vincent Mukunyadze, Tinashe Leon Poshai Kudakwashe Intauno https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6542 2025-04-28T09:39:11Z 2025-01-18T00:00:00Z

Title: Building blocks for smart cities adoption and associated implementation drawbacks in sub-Saharan Africa Authors: Leon Poshai; Kudakwashe Intauno Abstract: The existing literature on smart cities largely focuses on experiences from developed countries, with limited research addressing the specific challenges and opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. The drive to adopt smart cities as a solution to urban challenges in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing exponentially, but their adoption is associated with significant challenges and prospects which current literature does not fully explore. Therefore, to close this existing literature gap, this paper has three objectives. First, the paper critically appraises the progress made in implementing smart cities in selected sub-Saharan African countries to appreciate the strides made in embracing smart city initiatives in the region. Second, it analyses the contextual drawbacks faced in the implementation of smart cities in sub-Saharan Africa. Third, the paper proposes the building blocks for successful smart city implementation in the region. In this study, we used a systematic literature review to extract data from databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science to achieve these objectives. We analysed the extracted data through the reflexive thematic analysis method which enabled us to develop three themes centred on smart city implementation strides, drawbacks and building blocks. We then integrated these three themes into an overarching theme which guided the presentation and discussion of our results. Our results show that a number of sub-Saharan African countries have made notable efforts towards implementing smart cities but they face human and organizational challenges such as underdeveloped ICT infrastructure, digital illiteracy and budgetary constraints. We recommend that these challenges can be mitigated through building blocks such as investing in technological infrastructure development, formulating specific smart city policies, enhancing citizen awareness and collaborating with local and international stakeholders to mobilize required resources.

2025-01-18T00:00:00Z Leon Poshai Kudakwashe Intauno Leon Poshai Alouis Chilunjika Kudakwashe Intauno https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6493 2024-12-12T06:52:24Z 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Analysing the Urban Housing Challenge in Harare, Zimbabwe through the Wicked Policy Problems Framework Authors: Leon Poshai; Alouis Chilunjika; Kudakwashe Intauno Abstract: This article analyses how urban housing challenges in Harare, Zimbabwe have transformed into a wicked policy problem and further proposes some measures for managing this problem. The article uses a qualitative research approach in which an explanatory case study research design and key informant interviews are used to investigate how the provision of urban housing facilities has become a demanding task for the City of Harare in Zimbabwe. The study reveals how rapid population growth in Harare has escalated the demand for, and subsequent shortage of housing facilities leading to housing access complexities and persistently depreciating housing conditions in this city. The article argues that housing challenges in Harare are symptoms of other social problems such as unemployment, poverty, social inequalities, misgovernance and institutional corruption. This article proposes context-specific measures for harnessing a holistic approach that can be used for managing urban population explosions and sustainable housing provision in developing countries with Harare in Zimbabwe used as the social laboratory for analysis. This article has a practical and theoretical orientation as it proposes the measures that can be adopted to manage the wicked urban housing policy problem in Zimbabwe.

2024-04-01T00:00:00Z Leon Poshai Alouis Chilunjika Kudakwashe Intauno Barbara H. Tsverukayi Leon Poshai https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6285 2024-09-19T07:58:08Z 2024-08-23T00:00:00Z

Title: Commodification of Zimbabwe’s higher education amid funding decline: Impact on universal access Authors: Barbara H. Tsverukayi; Leon Poshai Abstract: The volatile economic environment in Zimbabwe, which is characterised by persistent hyperinflation has exposed the education access inequalities in Zimbabwe’s public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The persisting harsh economic conditions in Zimbabwe have further worsened the decline in higher education funding in addition to the budgetary cuts and the removal of student financial support systems in the late 1980s. This study aims to examine the impact of these neoliberal approaches on inclusive education access in Zimbabwe’s HEIs. The study used the qualitative research approach. The study participants included purposefully selected university managers and students at a state university in Zimbabwe. Data were collected from university managers through interviews while a combination of interviews and focus group discussions was used to collect data from the students. The study revealed that the adoption of neoliberal approaches such as austerity measures in Zimbabwe created a domino effect in the higher education sector as HEIs started to introduce market-based approaches. The adoption of market-oriented approaches in HEIs denigrated universal access to higher education and incapacitated students financially as shown by the declining enrolments and soaring student debts in the studied HEI. Based on the study results, this article concludes that there is a glaring need for restoring financial support towards empowering Zimbabwe’s public HEIs to be responsive to the financial needs of students. This will contribute towards achieving inclusive and equitable education, which promotes universal lifelong learning opportunities as embedded in Sustainable Development Goal 4 and Sustainable Development Goal 10. Contribution: Through an in-depth account of the experiences of students and managers in HEIs, this study provides an empirical understanding of the challenges associated with the adoption of neoliberal approaches in Zimbabwe’s higher education institutions.

2024-08-23T00:00:00Z Barbara H. Tsverukayi Leon Poshai