https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/66 2026-06-29T05:38:20Z https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7104 Title: Groundwater contamination and public health burden in an emerging urban settlement: A mixed-methods assessment from Charlton Park, Gweru, Zimbabwe Authors: Mupepi, Oshneck; Kundishora, Tererai; Mavugara, Roberta Abstract: In developing cities, urbanisation often overtakes the provision of water and sanitation services, forcing residents in emerging settlements to rely on untreated groundwater. This poses severe, yet poorly quantified, public health risks. The study assessed groundwater contamination and associated public health issues in Charlton Park residential area in Gweru, Zimbabwe using a convergent parallel mixed-methods study. Water samples were collected from accessible groundwater sources (n = 8) and subjected to microbiological analysis for faecal coliforms. Additionally, a household survey (n = 40) was administered. Data was triangulated with key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and clinical records. Statistical analysis included Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Spearman's correlation tests. Water quality analysis revealed 87.5% exceeded World Health Organisation faecal coliform guidelines. A significant negative correlation was found between latrine proximity and coliform levels (ρ = −0.81, p = 0.015). Major pathways of water contamination were seepage from inadequately lined septic tanks, discharge of human waste and leachate from open domestic waste dumps. Clinic records showed a disproportionate burden of disease among children, with a case distribution ratio of 1.67 compared to adults. This study provides empirical evidence that groundwater in unserviced and emerging urban settlements is a major pathway for faecal pathogens, directly impacting community health with unmistakable inequalities. Given these findings it is critical to ensure that service delivery precedes urban settlement. The study proposes a Socio-Hydrological Intervention Framework (SHIF) to mitigate contamination and its associated health burdens. It offers a phased, actionable model transferable to similar contexts across Zimbabwe. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Mupepi, Oshneck Kundishora, Tererai Mavugara, Roberta https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7012 Title: A systematic review of informal cross-border trade in African economies towards vision 2030 Authors: Dzawanda, Beauty; Matsa, Mark Makomborero; Gumbo, Elvis Batsirai; Runokunda, Juliet Chidochashe; Melanie D. Nicolau Abstract: Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) is spreading across Africa driven by high poverty levels and influenced by factors such as climate change, political instability and economic marginalisation among others. This desktop-based review synthesised the existing literature to explore the dynamics of ICBT in Africa. Findings reveal that while formal trade remains limited, ICBT thrives due to weak economic integration frameworks like SADC, ECOWAS and COMESA which often overlook informal trade. Biased policy reforms, retrenchments and exclusion from formal markets further exacerbate informality. ICBT significantly contributes to Africa’s GDP, particularly as women who represent over 70% of participants engage in this trade due to marginalisation from the formal economy. Although both men and women participate in ICBT, the later tend to face serious vulnerabilities, including health risks such as HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation and harassment often as a means of evading taxes or gaining access to services. The trade includes a wide array of goods both legal and illicit facilitated by corruption and inadequate border infrastructure. Despite its challenges, ICBT remains a vital livelihood strategy for many Africans. Rather than seeking to eliminate it, the article advocates for the development of a framework to formalise, regulate and safeguard ICBT while aligning it with sustainable development goals. Enhancing border infrastructure, gender-sensitive policies and institutional support can help maximise ICBT’s benefits while mitigating associated risks, fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Africa. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Dzawanda, Beauty Matsa, Mark Makomborero Gumbo, Elvis Batsirai Runokunda, Juliet Chidochashe Melanie D. Nicolau https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6897 Title: The Contribution of Internal Savings and Lending as a Strategy to Improve Household Food Security in Gutu District Authors: Marambanyika, Thomas; Murakata, Penlutha; Musasa, Tatenda Abstract: Food insecurity is a common problem in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Zimbabwe is not an exception. Techniques of improvisation, innovation and creativity have been widely adopted, as a way to curb risk of food insecurity. This research evaluated the contribution of Internal Savings and Lending (ISAL) as a strategy to improve household food security in Gutu District, Zimbabwe. A mixed methods research design was adopted to provide strengths that offset the weaknesses of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A total of 51 questionnaires were administered to household beneficiaries together with semi-structured interviews conducted with purposefully selected key informants such as Zimbabwe Aids Prevention Project-University of Zimbabwe (ZAPP-UZ) Program officer and Field coordinator. Document review was done to augment data from questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data obtained through the questionnaire survey and key informant interviews was analysed using the grounded theory method. The study findings revealed that ISAL had a significant positive impact on improving household food security. Evidence of improved household income has been shown through increased access to readily disposable income to cater for household needs, improvement in dietary diversity as well as establishment of food security projects. Mistrust and poverty are some of the challenges affecting participation of members at household and cooperative level. The study recommends the need for ZAPP-UZ personnel to train community volunteers to assist in consistent monitoring and evaluation of the program and conflict resolution mechanism. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Marambanyika, Thomas Murakata, Penlutha Musasa, Tatenda https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6876 Title: Modelling soil erosion risk in rural sub-catchments of Zimbabwe using RUSLE, remote sensing and machine learning Authors: Musasa,Tatenda; Shoko, Cletah; Marambanyika, Thomas; Dube, Timothy Abstract: The study modelled soil erosion risk in the Shashe and Tugwi–Zibagwe rural sub-catchments in Zimbabwe. To derive land use and land cover (LULC) thematic maps for the years 2016, 2020 and 2023, analysis ready data (Sentinel 2) were applied using the Random Forest (RF) algorithm in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was applied to understand the drivers of soil loss in the sub-catchments. The rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), length slope (LS), crop management (C) and conservation support practice factors (P) were derived in GEE and applied as input to determine soil erosion risk. The findings of the study show that, the Shashe sub-catchment had mean soil losses of 15.75, 45.25, and 23.51 t ha−1 year−1 for 2016, 2020, and 2023, respectively. In the Tugwi-Zibagwe sub-catchment, the mean soil losses were 11.62, 18.45, and 37.34 t ha−1 year−1 for the same years. The results also show that LULC changes were one of the major drivers to soil loss in the rural dominated sub-catchments. Results further show that, the area under cultivation was exposed to severe erosion which averaged 16–48 t ha−1 year−1 when compared to other land covers in the study areas. In conclusion, of all the two sub-catchments the Shashe experiences severe soil loss than Tugwi-Zibagwe due to variations in land use and covers. Soil loss also tends to be considerably high in areas along drainage networks and where vegetation clearance is evident. These findings highlight the pressing need for up-to-date soil management approaches to improve soil conservation in rural dominated sub-catchments of Zimbabwe. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Musasa,Tatenda Shoko, Cletah Marambanyika, Thomas Dube, Timothy