https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/2 2026-04-10T12:15:32Z https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6653 Title: The quest for women's agency: An Africana Womanist's perspective of gender involvement in global pandemics, the case of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe Authors: Matiza Vimbai Moreblessing Abstract: The paper is a qualitative exploration of the role and involvement of women in global pandemics, especially HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Women are regarded as a biologically weak species yet so important that a family cannot run without them, thus the African proverb 'musha mukadzi' (A home can only be called a home with a woman around). Their gender makeup deprives them of so many opportunities, and it often makes them susceptible to being regarded as the 'other' compared to their male counterparts. Granted their central role in the home, let alone in responding to a global pandemic like HIV/AIDS, need not be overemphasized. Noteworthy, African culture and religion have given women the power to be at the center of their homes despite the patriarchal system that characterizes most African societies. Women in African culture play a central role by virtue of their connection with the Earth as healers and nurturers of life. Socially, politically, and economically, the centrality of a woman cannot be overlooked; hence, her participation in the global pandemic of HIV/AIDS has given impetus to this research. Using Zimbabwe as a case study, the research purposively selected women and girls in Gweru urban whose families have been affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic to assess their responsibilities and roles in handling the situation. Guided by the Africana womanist perspective, an African-centered paradigm on gender, the article argues that locating women's agency in the face of global pandemics gives them the respect that they deserve, hence the researcher's motivation to delve into the issue of gender participation in that regard. Thus, in the quest for women's agency, the paper gives African women the mandate to be at the helm of the family in the face of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Their role positions them as an important supporting system in communities that sometimes denigrate them. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Matiza Vimbai Moreblessing https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6249 Title: Prospects and Challenges of Standardisation of Kalanga Orthography Authors: Ndhlovu Hlalani; Dr. R. Nhongo [SUPERVISOR] Abstract: The study is in the area of language planning and policy. It investigated on prospects and challenges of standardisation of Kalanga orthography as specifically obtained in Bulilima and Mangwe districts. The study identified and assessed the challenges and prospects of standardisation of Kalanga orthography with particular reference to language practices and choices in the districts. The research was premised on the fact that all languages with a dialect bias or a variety need to be standardised for it to develop a writing system. Kalanga is a dialectal language and is new in the field of nationally recognised languages hence developing a new language orthography is a dilemma. Unifying the dialects to come up with a standard with typically similar characteristics is therefore conceived as a major challenge. The process is seen as downgrading and killing other dialects. On the other hand an accepted writing norm presents the common language with numerous advantages specifically for community and national functions. The study is qualitative in nature where a case study research design was employed. Through qualitative data collection instruments, questionnaires, interview and documentary analysis were used to solicit data from purposively selected educationists, local leaders and Kalanga language experts. Based on the fact that Language need to be managed and developed, the language management theory as propounded by Mwaniki (2004) was implored as guideline to the research. The major findings of the study reiterated on the views of both scholars and respondents that challenges associated with dialectal variations, language purism and nonlinguistic factors militated against language use and language choices. The extended findings on prospects of standardisation built largely on the facts that the orthography develops a uniform writing system which in turn enhances literature production. Language management indeed sustained and improved the growth of language and this began with a standardised orthography. For the Kalanga orthography therefore harmonising the three dialects within the same orthography where no dialect is consumed by the other was proposed the greatest prospect in the pipeline. 2017-10-01T00:00:00Z Ndhlovu Hlalani Dr. R. Nhongo [SUPERVISOR] https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5995 Title: Women in newspaper cartoon straps during the ‘Operation Restore Legacy’ in The NewsDay and The Chronicle Authors: Vimbai Moreblessing Matiza Abstract: There is an existing trend of negativity in the portrayal of women through cartoons in local newspapers. This has led to the perpetuation of gender stereotypes against women aimed at demeaning and degrading the social status of women. Cartoons as works of art are expected to reflect on issues as they are happening in the societies. The two newspapers under study are The Chronicle and The News Day which are government owned and private owned respectively. The paper analyses these two newspapers in the manner in which represent women in cartoons and further interrogates circumstances surrounding such portrayal. The period under study is between November 2017 and April 2018. This is the period when Zimbabwe underwent leadership change, after thirty-seven years under one leader. Guided by the Africana womanist perspective the article concludes that women and men are given the same opportunities but if not disciplined women sometimes abuse their position. 2021-02-15T00:00:00Z Vimbai Moreblessing Matiza https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5992 Title: Articulation of Women’s Empowerment Through Poetry: A Critical Perspective Authors: Sindile Dlodlo Abstract: This is a literary study which analyses poetic works produced by Zimbabwe Women Writers. It seeks to establish the position of women as far as articulation of their emancipation and empowerment is concerned. This is done in the light of the fact that Zimbabwe Women Writers is an organisation which represents both the achievements of women and an arena for women to speak out. The Ndebele anthologyInkondlo (1998) is analysed and in the course of the analysis, Spivak’s (1988) argument of the woman being a subaltern who cannot speak is interrogated. It is the author’s submission that contributions in the anthology Inkondlo actually deconstruct the feminist way of thinking which guides the publisher 2021-02-15T00:00:00Z Sindile Dlodlo