WUASpace Repository
The WUASpace is an open access digital archive which collects, preserves, and disseminates scholarly content produced by the WUA community. WUASpace contains journal articles, book chapters, postgraduate thesis/dissertations, conference papers, pre-prints, working papers, technical reports, progress reports, project reports, among others.
Communities in DSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Anomie and resilience analysis of youth drug abuse in Highfield, Zimbabwe
(Taylor and Francis, 2026-08-22) Cedric Edwin Bhala; Kudzai Mwapaura
Substance misuse amongst young people has remained an impedi ment to optimal youth development in both developing and devel oped countries. This qualitative research aimed to explore the aetiology and effects of substance misuse amongst the youth in an urban setting. As such, we adopted the anomie theory in an attempt to analyse the realities of the youths in these difficult circumstances. A qualitative case study research design was employed in Highfield, one of Harare’s most populated high-density suburbs. We then purposefully selected and interviewed 12 youths and 4 key informants to collect data for purposes of this study. Research findings from the participants revealed that a majority of youths who have a drug and substance abuse problem were resorting to socially deviant methods of stealing from their households, finding cheaper substances to abuse, robbing local houses and mugging people as a means of getting money to sustain their addiction. Given this, the researchers recommended upscaling of rehabilitative efforts both by the government and NGOs as the panacea to drug and substance abuse in high-density suburbs.
Teaching Africa from the South: Rethinking North–South Educational Collaborations-A Case of Social Work in Zimbabwe
(Journal of Engineering Education, 2026-05-28) Christopher Guta; Elise Whacha; Benevolence Nyamugada; Lovemore Chinoputsa; Rtd Major Terrence Matambo; Tariro Resca Guta; Epiphania Kuzivakwashe Chikowo
This paper interrogates the nature and impact of North–South educational collaborations
in African higher education, with a focus on social work education in Zimbabwe. It examines
how partnerships between Global North institutions and African universities have historically
reproduced epistemic inequalities, even while aiming to support capacity development. Using
a decolonial theoretical lens and qualitative data drawn from literature and Zimbabwean case
examples, the article critically reflects on whose knowledge is privileged, who sets the
research and teaching agendas, and how Africa-centred pedagogies are being either supported
or undermined in these collaborations. The paper argues that to "teach Africa from the South"
requires not only institutional reform and local ownership of curricula but also a reimagining
of collaboration rooted in mutual respect, knowledge equity, and epistemic justice. Social
work education is used as a case to illustrate both the challenges and emerging alternatives
within these transnational academic relationships.
Public-private-community partnerships for enhanced adoption of traditional grains in Zimbabwe: A case study of Hurungwe district
(Asian Journal of Economics and Empirical Research, 2026-07-03) Brighton Shoniwa; Crispen Dungeni
In the wake of climate change-induced droughts, it is feasible for the smallholder farmers in
Hurungwe District of Zimbabwe to adopt traditional grains. However, there is a lukewarm
response to climate change, necessitating the establishment of Public-Private-Community
Partnerships (PPCPs) to enhance the adoption of traditional grains. The study examines the role
of public institutions, the private sector, and the smallholder farmers (the community) in the
adoption of traditional grains. The factors that could compromise the functioning of PPCPs in the
traditional grains value chain are examined. The research proposes pathways for strengthening
PPCPs in the traditional grains value chain. The Governance Network Theory, complemented by
Systems Theory, informs this study. The research employs a participatory mixed-methods
approach to integrate data from different data-gathering methods. The study respondents and
participants include diverse stakeholders partaking in agricultural and livelihood interventions in
Hurungwe District. Sampling is through purposive, quota, and snowball or chain techniques. This
study concludes that PPCPs enhance participation, resulting in mutual understanding,
empowerment, transparency, accountability, and leading to inclusive solutions. The study
proposes a system-oriented PPCP model for ensuring active participation of key actors
throughout the traditional grains value chain.
Addressing the Efficacy of Quality in Qualitative Research: A Review of the Current Discourse
(International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2026-02-24) Ngonidzashe Mutanana; Cosmas Tinashe Shoko
Quality is one of the most debated topics in the history of Qualitative Research Methods (QRM). It establishes the benchmarks, norms and values that a researcher should follow when involved in research. Quality is a critical tool for promoting value, effectiveness and efficiency in research processes. Qualitative research is popular in several disciplines such as local governance studies, sociology, education, gender studies, public management, media studies, human resource management, political science etc. The proponents of Qualitative Research (QR) believe that it has unique characteristics compared to quantitative and mixed research methods. Qualitative Research (QR) focuses on understanding lived experiences through narrative inquiry, field observations, focus study groups, and the use of digital photos. The literature on quality advocates for methodological rigor in QR. The discourse of quality in qualitative research is
evolving with time and the evolving trends in technology and AI. This review explores the key characteristics of QR and the evolving trends. It provides a meta-summary of the quality benchmarks identified across the various domains of qualitative research literature. It evaluates the advantages and limitations of using Artificial Intelligence in QR. Findings from the literature revealed that there is scholarly attention on quality components: credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, and authenticity. The characteristics of qualitative research call for different quality standards such as trustworthiness, reflexivity, contextual sensitivity, and rigour. Overall, the findings indicate that embracing Artificial intelligence (AI) in Qualitative Research presents opportunities and threats. AI’s ability to manage large-scale and multimodal data has enhanced the collection of qualitative data. AI can produce brief summaries or spot reoccurring patterns by offering real-time insights. The authors of this paper recommend that future studies should evaluate how quality standards in QR are interpreted and implemented across different academic disciplines, cultures and contexts.
It Takes a Village to Raise a Child: Asset-Based Community Development as a Pathway to Integrated Social Protection for Sustainable Child Protection in Zimbabwe
(MDPI: Social Sciences, 2026-04-20) Tawanda Masuka; Sipho Sibanda; Olebogeng Tladi-Mapefane
Children are some of the most vulnerable members of society who must be protected at all
costs. Zimbabwe has a long history of disjointed formal and indigenous social protection systems, which have resulted in the exclusion of many children, leading to high levels of child abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. In policy and practice, there is a strong bias
towards the ineffective statist formal system, yet the indigenous social protection system is
the mainstay for the protection of most children. The study aimed to explore how asset based community development can be used as a strategy to integrate the fragmented formal
and indigenous social protection systems for sustainable child protection. An explanatory
sequential mixed-methods research design was employed, collecting both quantitative
and qualitative data from 76 participants. The study findings indicate that asset-based
community development by positioning the indigenous social protection system at the
centre of the social protection framework provides a blueprint for a community-led and
integrated social protection system, which can translate into effective child protection. This
system, which utilises a wider network of community and external resources, can counteract
the limits of fragmented social protection and sustainably promote child protection among
impoverished households in Zimbabwe and similar contexts. The recommendation is that
asset-based community development should be promoted as a strategy towards integrated
social protection and sustainable child protection.