School Of Natural Sciences
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Item Machine Learning Adoption Among Technopreneurs in Gweru, Zimbabwe(Great Zimbabwe University, 2025) Chapwanya Natsai; Munthali AkimThis paper explored the present condition, operating challenges and facilitators of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) among Technopreneurs at Gweru, a secondary city in Zimbabwe. The research incorporated the use of qualitative exploratory design and Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework in which semi-structured interviews were held with 23, purposely sampled, Technopreneurs in different fields. The results showed that there is a young-adoption environment, with merely 26 percent of Technopreneurs already taking action with AI/ML, and 35 percent are still in the investigative stages. The sectoral analysis showed that there was more implementation in fintech (37.5) and strong exploration in agritech (30%). The greatest impediments identified were infrastructural constraints which were common and presented as an untrustworthy power, an expensive and slow internet, and expensive cloud service. The other impediments were critical knowledge gaps that require informal learning and lack of familiarity with AI/ML ventures by investors. On the other hand, collaborative peer learning networks, resource sharing and incremental adoption models became some of the important enablers. Specifically, the paper has emphasized the exponential nature of an "AI divide" necessitated by computational needs and suggested locally based suggestions, such as the creation of AI hubs, the development of local cloud infrastructure, formalizing training and mentorship, and training investors on how to faster accelerate AI-based Technopreneurship. This study bridged a significant gap in the knowledge on AI/ML adoption outside of main sources of innovation in emerging economies.Item Framework for the Upskilling for the 4th Industrial Revolution: Challenges, Curriculum and the Way Forward(Great Zimbabwe University, 2025) Mafukidze Harry D.; Sadock Brian; Chitiza Kennedy; Nechibvute ActionThe Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR or Industry 4.0) presents a significant shift in the operation of industries and economies. It is a manufacturing paradigm that integrates cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to create more intelligent, connected industrial systems. Unlike previous industrial revolutions, 4IR offers unprecedented advances, enabling machines to learn, adapt, and make decisions in manufacturing environments. However, operating, maintaining, and integrating these emerging technologies requires dedicated skill sets to thrive in this new landscape. The purpose of this work is to develop a pedagogical framework to promote key skills needed for the fourth industrial revolution and the implementation of its curriculum in tertiary education institutions in Zimbabwe. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via stakeholder engagements, online surveys, and interviews with educators and captains of industry. This study developed a comprehensive framework for 4IR education within tertiary institutions from four skill sets: general, soft skills, hard skills, and critical skills. The framework will play a key role in the effective upskilling of communities in the 4IR, especially those in low-resource Sub Saharan regionsItem Towards a comprehensive framework for enablers and inhibitors of bad news reporting on software projects in state universities in Zimbabwe(Great Zimbabwe University, 2025) Maseko Melody; Tsokota TheoSoftware project status reporting is critical in software project management, yet team members often find it easier to report positive news than negative progress. This research investigates the ‘mum effect’, which refers to the reluctance to report bad news on software projects by project team members. Silence on project bad news has remained a major contributor to project failure in higher learning institutions. This study, therefore, aimed to come up with a framework for the inhibitors and enablers of bad news reporting by project team members on specific academic and administrative software projects within state universities in Zimbabwe. Naturally, it is easier to report positive news than negative progress encountered during the software project life cycle. Following a qualitative, multiple-holistic case study approach, this research employed focus group discussions and key informant interviews with project managers, team members, and system users from three state universities in Zimbabwe. The findings indicate that the main enablers of bad news reporting include open communication, a positive organisational culture, and feedback and motivation to achieve. On the other hand, the results suggest that the main inhibitors of bad news reporting include a lack of communication, fear of punishment, an unfair distribution of work, and a lack of skills. The findings of this study can help institutions understand the dynamics at play in status reporting for software projects. Results from this study contribute to the body of knowledge theoretically and, practically, to status reporting on software project development in institutions of higher learning. This reduces the chances of software project failure and escalation.Item Introduction: Computational Intelligence and Mathematical Modelling for Industry and Commerce(Great Zimbabwe University, 2025) Nyawo Zvidenga Vongaig/0000-0003-2603-2273 Abstract - Between July 29 and July 31, 2025, GreatZimbabwe University’s School of Natural Sciences hosted its second International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Mathematics Modelling for Industry and Commerce, themed ‘Unlocking the Potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Knowledge Work.’ The conference venue was the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Honourable Dr Fredrick Shava, was the guest of Honour. The theme of the conference reflected the imperative to recalibrate the intellectual framework to respond to technological disruptions in the educational space. Great Zimbabwe University, as a Zimbabwean institution, is alert to the urgency of contextualizing the disruption within the national development agenda. The government of Zimbabwe, through flagship policies such as Heritage Based Education 5.0 and National Development Strategy 1, repositioned universities as engines of industrial transformation and national development. What this means is that institutions of higher learning go beyond teaching and learning, embrace innovation and industrialization. It is in this breath that the 2025 conference was relevant and apt. The fields of Computational Intelligence and Mathematical Modelling are emergent foundational academic disciplines to the implementation of Education 5.0.Item Sensitivity of Indigenous Plant Species Diversity to Climate Change in a Semi- Arid Environment:(Great Zimbabwe University, 2023) Madzikatidze WellingtonThe research examined the sensitivity of indigenous plant species diversity to climate change in a semi-arid environment over 36 years (1984–2020) in Chegutu district of Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe. This research was premised on the pragmatic research model and implemented the mixed-methods research design. Precipitation and temperature-related variables were first analysed to ascertain the climate system changes. Indigenous plant species diversity data were collected from 180 sampling plots identified using the nonaligned sampling framework. Correlations between observed indigenous plant species data along with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were determined, resulting in the use of NDVI as a proxy indicator for indigenous plant species diversity. Thus, NDVI was used in the determination of modifications in indigenous plant species over time. The indigenous plant species diversity data were regressed with climate variables data over the study period to establish the cause-effect relationships. Questionnaire surveys, interviews and direct field observations were used to understand further the climate-indigenous plant species dynamics from the perspective of local people in the area over the study period. Significant (p<0.05; α=0.05) trends in climatic variables were observed over the period under study, signifying a changing climate in the district. Significant correlations between different bioclimatic elements (precipitation and temperature) and the Shannon index of diversity were also observed, indicating the sensitivity of plant species to climatic variables. The study concludes that the changing climate partly influences the trends and dynamics of indigenous plant species in Chegutu District. Thus, indigenous plant species are considerably sensitive to climate change. There is need to equip organizations responsible for managing ecosystems for effective monitoring of the impacts of climatic changes on indigenous plant species, given the importance of indigenous plants to humanity. Capacitating organizations responsible for managing ecosystems would go a long way in preventing the likely invasions, migrations, and extinctions of key indigenous plant species within and from local ecosystems.Item Local Knowledge Adaptation Measures In An Era Of Climate Change:(Great Zimbabwe University, 2019) Tshuma Doreen TauraiThe study sought to explore possibilities of local knowledge adaptation measures used by the people of Chivi in the era of climate change. The interpretivist paradigm was employed to investigate various ways used by the participants to adapt to climate change. Purposive sampling was utilized to select the main respondents who met the age criterion of fifty (50) years and above, and who were born and bred in Chivi district. This procedure was to ensure that the participants had witnessed climatic changes occurring in Chivi. The age was taken to authenticate lived experience of climate change by the participants Data was gathered through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, observations and transect walks. Information collected through these methods and their associated tools was presented in tables, figures as well as qualitatively in words. Photographs were taken and presented to substantiate information gathered from observations and transect walks. The study was guided by indigenous knowledge held by the respondents. This community based approach was chosen over the top-down approach which is usually imposed on people by stakeholders. Research findings revealed that climate in the area has changed as evidenced by accounts given by people who have stayed in the area in the last fifty (50) years or more. Extreme weather events such as droughts, high temperatures and sometimes floods were cited. The numbers of rain days have reduced whilst there is an increase in the occurrence of dry spells during the rain season. Some of the evidence in the area to support the changing climate was that of the drying of rivers which used to flow right through the year, the extinction of some species and the reduction in biodiversity. Although quite a number of local knowledge adaptation measures were known in the area, a small percentage of people were using them. These measures included dug out water infiltration trenches, temporary migration of livestock, the zunde raMambo concept iii and crop diversification and rearing of drought resistant animals. A number of barriers were found to be hindering the widespread and effective use of local knowledge adaptation measures. The study concluded that the importance of using indigenous knowledge systems as adaptation measures has been relegated for top-down scientific measures. It is recommended that indigenous knowledge systems be documented so that present and future generations benefit by enhancing their adaptive capacity to climate change. Education platforms should be established to teach and empower young generations on the importance of using and respect for indigenous knowledge systems. Growing of drought resistant crops and keeping drought resistant animals should be embraced by every household in the area to eradicate poverty brought by increased climate variability and climate change being experienced in Chivi District. A framework for pathway to integrating indigenous knowledge systems in climate change adaptation was developed as a pathway to sustainable climate change adaptation for communitiesItem An investigation on e-resource utilisation among university students in a developing country:(AOSIS, 2018) Mawere Talent; Sai Kundai O.S.Electronic libraries are the recent development in the ever-changing technological world today. Students nowadays have the ability to carry the library wherever they are, their Internet-enabled devices being the only requirement. Most universities worldwide have subscribed to various online databases and other e-resources as a way of availing resources to their students. To their credit, most institutions of higher learning in developing countries have not been left out in this stampede.his study has provided some basic insights on utilisation of e-resources in universities of developing countries. Despite the younger generation being described as digital natives, on the contrary, it is quite evident that their uptake of technological innovations especially in education is quite poor. This research will assist both researchers and management of institutions of higher learning to provide and design amicable solutions to the problem of poor utilisation of e-resources as it highlights the major causes of poor utilisation in the developing country context.Item SEWAGE TREATMENT, DISPOSAL AND MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS AND THE QUEST FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT IN MASVINGO CITY (ZIMBABWE)(2011) Mapira JemitiasThis study examines the problems of sewage treatment, disposal and management that are bedeviling the city of Masvingo (Zimbabwe). This is done in the light of the current legislation as enshrined in the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) of 2002. The study was conducted in 2008, based on field surveys and document interrogation (literature review). The city is experiencing an environmental crisis due to the malfunction of its sewage waste treatment works, which are: old, and frequently break down due to power cuts and the shortage of spare parts to repair them. However, this problem is not confined to Masvingo City, as many urban centres in Zimbabwe also experience it due to the prevalent harsh economic conditions. Municipalities are often bankrupt and therefore lack the capacity to execute their mandate efficiently, which undermines the goal of environmental protection. The paper advocates for the forging of links with foreign donors or partners who may be willing to provide funding and technical assistance so that some of the problems can be solved.Item CHALLENGES OF WASTE MANAGEMENT IN CHIREDZI, ZIMBABWE(2018) Hobwana Christine; Ngaza Nyashadzashe; Mapira JemitiasPoor waste management has been one of the greatest challenges in most developing countries. Towns and cities in developing countries have experienced population explosions due to natural increase and rural-urban migration. Urbanization and modernization have also led to the increase of the amount and complexity of the waste being generated. Local authorities responsible for proper waste management are faced by various problems which include financial constraints, absence of the required professional personnel as well as poor public awareness on the dangers of poor waste management and the absence of properly engineered landfills. In the current study, waste management in Chiredzi was researched. A mixed methods research approach was used in the study, selected wards were used as representatives of the town in responding to questionnaires, and the relevant local authorities were interviewed. Chiredzi just like most towns in developing countries has poor waste management practices. There is need for an integrated approach to waste management and many recommendations are cited in this paper.