bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empowering Women in Blue Uniforms—Gender and Police in South Africa
Authors: Singh Shanta , Khan Sultan
Published: June 2020

Gender in the police force has received scant attention by researchers, although there are complex social dimensions at play in how male and female law enforcement officers relate to each other in the workplace. Given the fact that males predominate in the police force, their female counterparts are often marginalised due to their sexual orientation and certain stereotypes that prevail about their femininity. Male officers perceive female officers as physically weak individuals who cannot go about their duties as this is an area of work deemed more appropriate to men. Based on this perception, female officers are discriminated against in active policing and often confined to administrative duties. This study looks at how female police officers are discriminated against in the global police culture across the globe, the logic of sexism and women’s threat to police work, men’s opposition to female police work, gender representivity in the police force, and the integration and transformation of the South African Police Service to accommodate female police officers. The study highlights that although police officers are discriminated against globally, in the South African context positive steps have been taken to accommodate them through legislative reform.
Breaking the Shackles of Gender Stereotyping to Create New Norms: The Case of Zimbabwean Migrant Women in Mthatha Town
Authors: Madambi Sanction
Published: June 2020

The migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa is shaped by several factors and processes. Traditionally, the decision to migrate was mostly based on family considerations (where gender stereotypic roles were a priority), although in some cases the migrants exercised individualism and personal agency. This led to migration trends that were male dominated. Current Zimbabwean migration trends reflect large volumes of women as the socio-economic crisis forces them to leave their country. These migrant women encounter a myriad of challenges in their host countries. This paper explores Zimbabwean women’s migration to the town of Mthatha in South Africa, highlighting their challenges and the strategies they employ to overcome these, as found in a recent case study. Applying a qualitative research design and using questionnaires and interviews to gather data from the 100 purposively sampled women, the study found that many Zimbabwean migrant women in Mthatha encountered numerous challenges. They lacked the required documents to live and work in South Africa, experienced exploitation and marriage constraints, and had broken ties with their families back in Zimbabwe. According to the study, these women managed to navigate these challenges, rising above the stereotypic norms and values that used to label them as non-productive citizens to superheroes who were supporting their families and the country’s economy—thus breaking the shackles of gender stereotyping to create new norms. These findings underline the importance of shifting from the traditional approaches to women migration and pursuing perspectives that present migration as a critical component of the process of social change and development to all migrants.
Sheroes of the Sea: A Comparative Reading of the Girl-Centred Films Moana and Whale Rider
Authors: Du Plooy Belinda
Published: June 2020

This article considers two contemporary films in which youthful female leadership has been depicted as sea narratives. These are New Zealand director Niki Caro’s 2003 film Whale Rider, based on the 1987 short novel of the same name by Maori author Witi Ihimaera, and Disney’s 2016 animated film, Moana. There are clear similarities in the narratives and, in fact, the directors of Moana cited Caro’s Whale Rider as inspiration for their film. Both texts present the stories of young girls from Pacific Island communities and their individual and communal crises of existence and rites of passage. The classic hero’s journey merges with the iconic trope of the sea journey (both traditionally male genres) and both are presented as the personal existential quests of young girls and their subsequent transformation of the communities they eventually will lead. Both films participate in the contemporary critical pedagogical revisioning task, by providing female equivalents or parallels to previously male-dominated mythologies and narratives of heroic journeying and quest, thereby contributing to a contemporary tradition of female sheroics.
A Cultural-Institutional Perspective on Widows’ Empowerment in Rural Nigeria
Authors: Nwokoro Chioma Vivienne , Igwe Paul Agu
Published: June 2020

This paper examines the empowerment of widows in the context of how they can use provisions from indigenous groups to address challenges facing them in their rural communities. In advancing a cultural-institutional analysis of widows’ empowerment in rural Nigeria, the paper argues that poor widows can solicit the support of indigenous groups to address their life challenges. In this paper, indigenous support groups (ISGs) refer to various local channels of support widows can utilise to enhance their wellbeing in Nigerian rural communities. An exploratory approach was employed in this study, and data were gathered through observation and semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 48 widows in rural communities in Abia State Nigeria. The study revealed various ways the widows negotiated their empowerment by relying on supports from indigenous groups in their communities. The study also uncovered social capital characteristics in the supports provided by the indigenous support groups, which contributed original data to women’s development literature. The paper concludes that for more effective initiatives in widows’ empowerment, the indigenous groups should work in collaboration with other development agencies, as they have a better understanding of the widows’ vulnerabilities and empowerment at the grassroots level.
Nursing Students’ Knowledge, Attitude and Use regarding an Implanted Contraceptive Method
Authors: Ukoha Winifred Chinyere , Mooi Nomaxabiso M.
Published: June 2020

Despite the prioritisation of contraceptives in the sustainable development goals for 2030 and their increasing availability, unplanned pregnancy remains a universal problem, representing up to 40 per cent of all reported pregnancies. Many sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa, have resorted to the use of implanted contraceptives, such as Implanon, to decrease the rate of unintended pregnancies. Therefore, this study sought to assess the knowledge, attitude and use regarding the Implanon contraceptive method among undergraduate nursing students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 undergraduate nursing students who were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaires and analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 24. The results revealed that 37 (61.7%) of the respondents were between the ages of 18 and 19 years and none were married or divorced. Fifty-five (91.7%) of them had no children, while 5 (8.3%) had experienced an unintended pregnancy before. Twenty-five (41.7%) of the respondents were not aware of the availability of Implanon, while 35 (58.3%) of them had unfavourable attitudes to the contraceptive method. The results also revealed a significant relationship between certain socio-demographic variables, especially between age and the experience of an unintended pregnancy (p = 0.006). Based on these findings, efforts should be made to promote contraceptive education and counselling. Further research, preferably qualitative research, is needed to explore the reasons for the unfavourable attitude to the implanted contraceptive method.
Mentoring of Community Service Nurses: Nurse Managers’ Perceptions
Authors: Khunou Sisinyana Hannah
Published: June 2020

Community service nurses (CSNs) are newly qualified nurses (NQNs) with the least experience and who need constant support and mentoring. They experience numerous challenges, which include the lack of confidence, and feelings of incompetence and inadequacy. These challenges contribute to a difficult transition from the role of a student nurse to that of a professional nurse. This article reports on the qualitative data of a study conducted by Khunou and Rakhudu. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of nurse managers (NMs) regarding the mentoring of CSNs in public health facilities in the North West province (NWP) of South Africa. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used to explore and describe the NMs’ perceptions regarding the mentoring of the CSNs. Three focus group discussions for 20 NMs and 7 individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. A tape recorder was used to capture the NMs’ perceptions regarding the mentoring of CSNs in public health facilities of the NWP. Tesch’s method of data analysis was used to analyse the collected qualitative data. The study revealed the following themes: CSNs lack skills; CSNs are mentored; and both CSNs and NMs have mentoring needs. These themes were supported by the following categories: CSNs lack practical skills; CSNs lack professional responsibility; CSNs lack confidence; CSNs are supported; CSNs need orientation; and CSNs need mentoring to bridge the practice-theory gap. NMs also need to be supported.
Curriculum Development at Institutional Level: Reflections and Lessons Learnt
Authors: Matlakala Mokgadi Christina , Maritz Jeanette E
Published: June 2020

Curriculum development at any level requires legal frameworks and professional regulatory requirements, and the curriculum should undergo educational and organisational quality assurance processes. Lecturers are responsible for curriculum development in their respective institutions. The objective of the study was to explore the reflections of nurse educators regarding curriculum development in an Open and Distance Learning University in South Africa. This article aims to share the lessons learnt from the process of curriculum development. A qualitative exploratory design was used, following interpretivism. The participants were nurse educators involved in curriculum development in a specific department at the university. Data were collected through individual written narratives and round-table group discussions, followed by a thematic content interpretive analysis. The findings indicated programme classification, organisational processes and compliance as the topics from reflections; and lessons learnt from the curriculum development process were the pedagogic considerations, experiential learning and collaboration. The information obtained highlights the need for staff development and support to achieve academic excellence and active scholarship in curriculum development.
Knowledge and Attitudes of HIV-Positive Women regarding Exclusive Breastfeeding
Authors: Muditambi Nathaniel N. , Makua Memme G. , Van Rensburg Gisela Hildegard
Published: June 2020

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is one of the primary strategies towards elimination of the HIV pandemic. Part of the mother-to-child transmission strategy is exclusive breastfeeding, which is fundamental for the survival of HIV-exposed infants, as breast milk remains the vital source of essential nutrients for infant growth. Unfortunately, exclusive breastfeeding comes with the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV if not practised correctly. Moreover, there were several amendments of the infants feeding guidelines before the study was initiated, which brought about a need to ascertain the need for advocacy and health education. To assess the current knowledge and attitudes of HIV-positive women regarding exclusive breastfeeding in the Mopani district (greater Letaba sub-district), South Africa, a quantitative, descriptive study was conducted. Probability sampling was used to sample the sites and non-probability sampling was used to sample the respondents in this study. A self-developed structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 123 respondents. The study concluded that HIV-positive women have good knowledge of and positive attitudes to exclusive breastfeeding. However, knowledge of HIV transmission during breastfeeding is still a challenge. Therefore, continuous evidence-based strategic interventions to increase the knowledge of HIV-positive women are still important in the fight against the pandemic.
Parents’ Perception regarding Their Participation in the Care of Hospitalised Children at a Tertiary Government Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi
Authors: Phiri Lophina Sitima , Chimwaza Angela , Phiri Patrick Gladson McLeywick Chipalamnjira
Published: June 2020

Parental participation is one of the cornerstones of paediatric practice. Evidence from the literature has shown that effective parental participation depends on parents’ preparedness, adequate communication between parents and nurses, and the negotiation process. However, little is known about the perception of these parents regarding their participation in the care of their hospitalised children. The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of parents regarding their participation in the care of their children who were hospitalised at a government hospital in Malawi. A descriptive qualitative study was carried out using a semi-structured interview guide to collect data from 20 parents in the paediatric department. Thematic analysis was done guided by Colaizzi’s method. Three main themes emerged from the data and these were lack of role negotiation by healthcare workers, inadequate role preparation for parents, and parents’ perceptions of the care they provided to their hospitalised children. The study findings showed that parents view their participation in the care of hospitalised children as appropriate, important and satisfying. However, gaps exist in the way they participate in the care of their hospitalised children due to inadequate role negotiation and role preparation for parents and inadequate information from nurses. The researchers recommend that management should develop protocols and guidelines for the implementation of parental participation in the care of hospitalised children to promote best practices and quality children’s care.
Training Programme for Professional Nurses who Care for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Sechabe Ednah Virginia , Mothiba Tebogo Maria , Bastiaens Hilde
Published: June 2020

Increasing urbanisation and rising unhealthy lifestyle risk factors are contributing to a growing diabetes epidemic worldwide. South Africa like many other countries is continually reporting an increase in the prevalence of diabetes. Education and training play an essential role in the provision of the quality of patient care. In this study, a conceptual framework based on the practice-oriented theory by Dickoff, James, and Wiedenbach was used to develop the training programme for professional nurses who care for patients with diabetes. The aim of this article was to describe a conceptual framework which guided the development of a training programme for the professional nurses who care for patients with diabetes. A mixed-method research design was used. The accessible population for this study consisted of professional nurses who care for patients with diabetes in the three Ga-Dikgale village clinics that are situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Purposive sampling was used. Both semi-structured and structured interviews were used to collect data for this study. Diverse levels of knowledge among professional nurses were identified where some professional nurses lack knowledge while others have knowledge related to diabetes. A lack of continuous training on care of patients with diabetes was also identified. Challenges related to patients’ socio-economic status, inadequate knowledge about diabetes, misconceptions, denial, and a lack of resources for patient care that leads to poor treatment outcomes led to a framework for a context-specific training programme. There is a need for a context-specific training programme for professional nurses who care for patients with diabetes which could improve patient care.
Nursing Students’ Perceptions and Expectations Regarding the Use of Technology in Nursing Education
Authors: Harerimana Alexis , Mtshali Ntombifikile Gloria
Published: June 2020

Technological innovations are changing the face of nursing education, with teachers being expected to integrate best teaching practices in the classroom and to ensure that nursing students are motivated and engaged. Taking into consideration students’ needs is essential to provide successful integration of the technology in teaching and learning. This paper aims to explore nursing students’ perceptions and expectations regarding the use of technology in nursing education. A descriptive quantitative research design was used, and the study was conducted at a selected university in South Africa. A total of 150 nursing students completed the questionnaires, with the data being analysed descriptively using SPSS version 25. The nursing students reported that educators used technology to deliver course instructions (96.7%), and encouraged students to use it for creative or critical thinking tasks (95.3%). They were encouraged by their educators to use their own technology devices (94.7%) and online platforms (94.7%). More undergraduate students perceived that nurse educators used technology at school (15.63 ± 2.54) than postgraduate students (14.41 ± 3.07) (U =1341.00, p = .044). Overall, 77.3 per cent of the nursing students expected the use of technology in teaching, mainly Moodle (88.7%), search tools (75.3%), podcasts and videocasts (66.7%), EndNote (62.7%), and Turnitin (48.7%). The majority of the students (82.1%) from the lower academic levels (first and second year) had a high expectation of the use of technology compared to 71.2 per cent of the higher levels (third and fourth year). The use of technology in teaching requires nurse educators to have adequate skills to make it a powerful tool for teaching and learning. Much more effort should be put in motivating students to use various technological tools, and ensuring that they have adequate skills, particularly at the entry level.
Nursing Students’ Perceptions and Attitudes regarding Ebola Patients in South Africa
Authors: Manyisa Zodwa Margaret , Osuafor G. N. , Akinsola H. A.
Published: June 2020

There is an association between the perceptions of and the attitudes to the willingness of nursing students to treat infectious diseases. However, this relationship between the perceptions, attitudes and willingness to treat rapidly spreading diseases with high fatality rates such as the Ebola virus is still evolving. The aim of this study was to explore and describe nursing students’ perceptions of and attitudes to their willingness to treat Ebola patients in South Africa. Data were collected from 495 nursing students who voluntarily participated in a study on perceptions, attitudes and willingness to treat patients with the Ebola virus disease (EVD). A factor analysis was used to measure the association between nursing students’ perceptions of and attitudes to their willingness to treat patients with EVD. The results showed that 44.8 per cent of the respondents expressed willingness to nurse patients with EVD. The willingness to care for patients with EVD was higher when family concerns and superstitious beliefs did not matter. Incentives and encouraging hospital settings were perceived to enhance a willingness to care for patients with EVD. The willingness to care for patients with EVD was less when a perceived fear of infection was high. To improve a willingness to care for patients with EVD, the identified perceptions and attitudes should be integrated in nurse training programmes. These factors may have a positive impact on the perceptions of and attitudes to caring for patients with EVD.
Recommendations to Improve Antenatal Care Uptake through Community Participation and Local Accountability
Authors: Mthethwa Evangeline Xihlamariso , Peu Mapheko Doriccah , De Waal Maretha , Yazbek Mariatha
Published: June 2020

Antenatal care, an integral component of primary health care, is offered as a free health service for pregnant women at public health facilities. However, the death of women during pregnancy, during childbirth, or after delivery continues to be a major challenge in health care systems due to poor antenatal care uptake. The main aim of this study was to explore and describe recommendations from local stakeholders and health governance structures to promote the uptake of Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) services in the areas surrounding local clinics. The study used a qualitative, descriptive design, with purposively selected participants sharing detailed information in their own words on the subject. Twenty individual in-depth interviews were conducted at three selected community health centres (CHCs) in the Bushbuckridge sub-district, Mpumalanga province. The results revealed the following needs: clinic committees must participate in promoting BANC awareness through health education, use of existing community-based structures must be strengthened, men’s support for their pregnant partners must be harnessed, and the roles and responsibilities of clinic committees must be amplified. The study showed that community leaders and clinic committees are willing to work in collaboration with health care providers in promoting antenatal care uptake in the community by expanding BANC awareness. Clinic committees’ previous involvement in health awareness campaigns is a strength that could contribute to making antenatal care awareness programmes successful. Vital recommendations include formalising reporting mechanisms for clinic committees so that they can be accountable to the community in promoting BANC services, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, and resourcing.
Patterns and Dynamics of Sexual Violence among Married Adolescents in Zimbabwe
Authors: Thupayagale-Tshweneagae Gloria B , Phuthi Kesiwe , Ibitoye Olabisi Fatimo
Published: June 2020

Getting married in adolescence is common in most parts of Africa. It has in many cases salient direct links with sexual violence among adolescents. Sexual violence and the vulnerabilities of adolescents have been reported in literature. However, the patterns and dynamics of sexual violence among married adolescents are not known or have not been fully studied. The purpose of this study was to explore the patterns and dynamics of sexual violence among married adolescents. A qualitative approach using in-depth interviews was used in the study. A total of 15 married adolescents were recruited through purposive snowball sampling in one rural district of Zimbabwe. Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis framework was used for data analysis. Three major themes emerged, namely sexual control, rape, and forced marriage. Each theme had three sub-themes. The study confirms what has already been reported in the literature that marriage at a young age has a correlation with sexual violence. There is therefore a need to strengthen family education on the effects of early marriages.
The Influence of Health Literacy on Knowledge of Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening Practices among Female Undergraduates at a University in Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Ayamolowo Sunday Joseph , Akinrinde Lydia Feyisayo , Oginni Monisola Omoyeni , Ayamolowo Love Bukola
Published: June 2020

The global incidence of cancer is rising, and low-income and lower-middle-income countries have the worst figures. However, knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and cervical cancer screening practices remains poor in these regions. This study assessed the concept of health literacy as a potential determinant of knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and screening practices among female undergraduates. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 female undergraduates at a university in southwest Nigeria. A validated questionnaire composed of subscales on nine components of health literacy, knowledge of cervical cancer prevention, and cervical cancer screening practices was used for data collection. The majority of the respondents obtained a high score on most of the components of health literacy and 66% had good knowledge of cervical cancer prevention. Only 11% demonstrated good practices of Pap smear testing. Of all the components of health literacy, “feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers” (OR = 0.075; 95% CI [0.036–0.115]; p = 0.015) and “understanding health information well enough to know what to do” (OR = 0.055; 95% CI [0.006–0.104]; p = 0.029) were significantly associated with knowledge of cervical cancer prevention. Out of the major challenges related to cervical cancer screening among undergraduates, the feeling of being at risk (OR = 4.71; p < 0.05) and uncomfortable experiences from past screening (OR = 0.12; p < 0.05) were significantly associated with going for cervical cancer screening. The study concluded that levels of health literacy influenced knowledge of cervical cancer prevention among female undergraduates, but it did not affect their engagement in cervical cancer screening practices.
Male Survivors’ Perceptions of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Management Strategies in the South African Mining Sector
Authors: Mavundla Thandisizwe Redford , Zungu Lindiwe Innocentia
Published: June 2020

Deep-shaft mining is regarded as a high-risk occupation with an increasing number of traumatic accidents. Though there are strategies for the management of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little has been done to document the male survivors’ perceptions of PTSD management strategies in the South African mining sector. An exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was conducted within the South African mining sector to explore and describe the survivors’ perceptions of PTSD management strategies. The population comprised all men who were suffering from PTSD as a result of accidents in the mines. A purposive sample of 29 men was selected to participate in the study and data saturation was achieved. Unstructured individual interviews and field notes were used as methods of data collection. One question was asked during the interviews: “What do think helped you recover from PTSD?” Communication skills were employed to facilitate the participation of the men during the interviews. Data were collected using a voice recorder and were then transcribed verbatim and analysed using Tesch’s descriptive method of data analysis. Measures for ensuring trustworthiness were applied to verify the findings. Three themes emerged during data analysis: (1) perceived emphasis on physical versus psychological treatments, (2) perceived coping strategies used to deal with the trauma, and lastly, (3) the perceived effect of social support networks during trauma. Based on the perceptions of the participants, it became evident that PTSD management did not meet expectations. An integrated approach is recommended for the future treatment of psychological and physical trauma among survivors of traumatic events in the mining sector.
Judicial Review: A Fertile Field of Contention
Authors: Mayat Muhammed Ahmed
Published: June 2020

While constituting a core feature of democratic South Africa, judicial review of legislative action remains a contentious issue globally. The best case for such review remains convincing only in justifying severely constrained judicial veto power in select circumstances.In developing a novel construction of judicial review, various political and philosophical arguments both in support of and against various forms of judicial review is analysed. The author argues that the crucial question is not one of efficiencies but rather of political legitimacy and any form of legislative judicial review will only legitimately subvert legislative decisions where the underpinnings of democracy and rights are threatened with scant means of recourse available. The authors revised model advocating for the strict application of legislative judicial review to select circumstances pertaining primarily to minority rights, attempts to rid its present construction of existing pathologies while retaining some form of legitimate protection where necessary
Southern African Region Leading the Way in Election Technology: 2009–2019 Review of Global Standards and Unanswered Questions
Authors: Maphephe John , Balkaran Rishidaw , Thakur Surendra
Published: June 2020

This article presents essential tools that can help to devise a standard set of requirements and attributes for any form of electoral technology adopted across the continent. A number of countries in the southern African region have turned to a variety of technological solutions in a bid to make elections more efficient and cost-effective and to strengthen stakeholder trust at each stage of the electoral cycle. Africa has become a testing ground for technological leapfrogging. Election management bodies and Southern African Development Community observer teams are in the spotlight, but this leaves more questions about electoral capacity – problems that sometimes extend to the top of the African Union, which means that the African Union should adopt an incremental technological approach when dealing with electoral observations, capacity-building and political problem-solving across the whole continent. However, in many cases, the technology does not necessarily improve trust in the process or deal with the all problems with elections it was intended to resolve. As a result, concerns about the sustainability of electoral technology remain unanswered. The information for this study was gathered from an online search of secondary academic literature on electoral system management, published reports, legal mandates and official websites of the election management bodies studied. The lessons of the past decade show that technology has great potential for strengthening electoral integrity, but its introduction and use must be grounded in well-designed policies, surrounded by adequate safeguards and supported by legislation that is adequate to deal with the issues that it raises. The article attempts to assess emerging trends and to speculate on how they may affect the electoral process over the next decade. There is a need to examine how recent technological advancements could contribute further to enhancing electoral integrity and participation and how they can be integrated into the process in a sustainable manner.
Unrest and Violence: 2018
Authors: Du Plessis Willemien , Pienaar Juanita M , Koraan René , Stoffels Myrone C
Published: June 2020

In this issue of the Journal of Law, Society and Development, the most important measures and cases pertaining to crime statistics, truth and reconciliation, security services, arms and ammunition, terrorism and corruption that occurred during 2018 are discussed.
Deliberative and Struggle Theories of Rights Realisation: Examining the Protection of Women in Nigeria
Authors: Onuora-Oguno Azubike Chinwuba , Ike Chianara , Barau Christy
Published: June 2020

This article investigates the theories of a deliberative approach to human rights protection and the struggle theory as propounded by Dembour in the first instance and also by Heyns. It contends that the protection of women against violence in Nigeria is experiencing a wave of challenges, especially in an effort to dismantle the strangleholds of culture and religion in its perception and interpretation. The article further examines the role an enhanced human rights education can play in achieving this aspiration. It notes that the Education for Justice initiative (E4J) of the United Nations Office on Crimes and Drugs represents a clear example of the role that both the deliberative and the struggle approaches can play in realising human rights towards creating lawfulness through education at all levels. Relying on a qualitative methodical approach, the authors have identified gaps and have made suggestions about bringing about the desired change.
The aftermath of Mudzuru & Another v The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs & Others: Legal mechanisms as tools against child marriage in Zimbabwe
Authors: Ndhlovu Ntandokayise , Olaborede Adebola
Published: June 2020

This article examines the recent ruling of Mudzuru & Another v The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs & Others regarding the harmful practice of child marriage and the impact of the role of the courts and other legal instruments as mechanisms to curb the vice in Zimbabwe. Despite the variety of international, regional and domestic laws protecting children, child marriage remains a recurring practice in Zimbabwe. This article therefore examines the practice of child marriage, which is often done under the pretext of culture and religion, and considers the question of whether the landmark ruling and legal instruments imposing obligations on Zimbabwe have had an impact inter alia on the protection of child rights against harmful practices and, more importantly, in combating the scourge. On the one hand, the article finds that legal means play a very important role in combating the vice. On the other, it also finds that there is no single strategy to combat the recurring practice of child marriage in the country. Hence it is paramount that any strategy which seeks to deal with the harmful practice of child marriage must include both legal and non-legal mechanisms. This is because the harmful practice is reinforced by deep multifaceted and interrelated factors beyond the merely legal inconsistencies that existed in the legislative framework.
Strengthening the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria through Alternative Dispute Resolution
Authors: Abdulraheem-Mustapha Mariam
Published: June 2020

It is generally argued that criminal justice system is entrusted with the responsibility for controlling criminal behaviour and punishing the offenders. The process commences with the commission of a crime and continues with subsequent interventions by the law-enforcement agencies. However, many factors come into play in determining whether or not the whole process runs its full course, considering its inefficiency in recent times. Using a qualitative method, this article examines the effectiveness or otherwise of the newly introduced alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in terms of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, in order to ascertain whether or not the concept is comprehensive as a mechanism for protecting the victims, the accused person and society. The findings revealed that the current criminal justice system in Nigeria is poor, ineffective and in dire need of reform. The article therefore recommends, among other things, that Nigeria move away from the conventional retributive justice system and incorporate a restorative or reparative justice system. ADR should also be strengthened in order to provide for effective and timely dispute resolution that is able to support a modern economy. Furthermore, there should be more training courses for all the participants in the justice system, as training will serve to enhance the effective administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.
On Nigerian queer rights advocacy and “saying it”
Authors: Ikpo David
Published: June 2020

Homosexuality is still generally considered un-African, unacceptable and criminal in most African states. In Nigeria, this translates into incidents of criminalisation, violence and other forms of human rights violation targeted at sexual minorities. The agitation towards sexual minorities in Nigeria is as much an attitudinal as it is a legal problem, and the factors that feed negative attitudes towards homosexuals equally enable practices such as gender-based violence. This article engages with the advocacy being done to address the human rights of sexual minorities in Nigeria, seeking to make a case for indigenisation and for engaging with the use of narratives and storytelling as a tool to complement the ongoing work. This article also seeks to make a case for engaging with the principle of the inseparability of the struggle to advance the rights of sexual minorities in Nigeria.
The Limitations of Legalism and Identity Labels in Post-apartheid South Africa Africa
Authors: Sauti Gloria
Published: June 2020

The roots of identity crisis in post-apartheid South Africa are embedded in systemic failures reflected in the design and content of various legal documents, including application forms for registering a birth, school or university entrance, acquiring an identity document, registering a marriage, employment, and a death. A key requirement in the forms is that individuals identify themselves, based on race, gender, and nationality. Consequently, the information collected through these forms reproduces racial divisions and recreates old identities of the apartheid and colonial past—namely Blackness, Whiteness, Nationalism, or Otherness. Many such identities; including gender, created through these legal documents are distorted, and, therefore, misrepresent the actual descriptions of who the individuals are. As a result, individuals are forced to identify themselves, based on laws passed during apartheid. This article explores the identity crisis in South Africa, where identity labelling seems to be particularly highly racialised and ethnicised as a result of the social classification of humans according to race, ethnicity, gender, and nationality, applied in the colonial and apartheid era. By conducting a meta-analysis of application forms for the registration forms for births, deaths, marriages, school and university entrance, as well as acquiring national identity documents, the article argues that the current legalistic identity imaginings in South Africa are anachronistic to the ways in which individuals might otherwise want to self-identify.
Rural Women as Entrepreneurs in the Context of Patriarchy: Experiences of Female Entrepreneurs in Mudzi District, Zimbabwe
Authors: Nyatara Katherine , Chiweshe Manase Kudzai , Mahiya Innocent
Published: June 2020

This article reports on a study which aimed to examine the varied experiences of women involved in business across rural spaces in the context of patriarchy through an exploration of their narratives highlighting their challenges, successes, fears and hopes. The assumption of the study was that rural women in Zimbabwe occupy a particularly difficult space because of numerous structural impediments which include patriarchy, unequal access to skills, capital inadequacy and exclusion from formal economic systems. The study sought to provide a nuanced understanding of female entrepreneurship in African spaces with the aim of showing that there are varied stories of agency, challenges, successes and failures that can be documented. The study utilised qualitative methods which sought a nuanced analysis of women’s experiences in Mudzi District, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe. The data was collected through life histories, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. A total of 34 participants were recruited for the study through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The participants included women involved in a varied number of entrepreneurial activities such as bread making, vending, dress making, poultry and running micro enterprises. The findings showed that whilst women face multiple structural impediments as entrepreneurs, they are active agents questioning and shaping their social spaces through business. Women embarking on entrepreneurial activities is in itself seen as a serious challenge against patriarchal structures.
Conceptual Model for Financial Inclusion Development through Agency Banking in Competitive Markets
Authors: Nyagadza Brighton
Published: June 2020

This article reports on a study that aimed to identify the important elements of financial inclusion based on a literature review and a case study of agency banking. The study explored and applied literature review findings and utilised a case study approach, notably of three renowned commercial banks in Zimbabwe, to illustrate the importance of financial inclusion through enhanced agency banking in competitive markets. An instrumental case study (cross-sectional) research protocol was employed for the three selected banks. A mixed methods approach was used to collect responses from the respondents in the field which included 10 agency banking department managers, 70 active agency bankers, and 300 active account holders or customers from the three selected banks. The researcher utilised an instrumental case study protocol which showed that the procedure for a standardised approach in carrying out more than one case study (for the three selected banks). The primary data was analysed and interpreted using SPSS, in line with the themes, devised from the research objectives. Structural equation modelling was applied so as to check the causal relationship between variables. It suggests a framework for building and fostering financial inclusion through agency banking. The findings showed that financial inclusion needs to be aligned to the corporate needs and processes to help deliver customer or depositor promises. The level of consistency along financial inclusion through agency banking, targeted towards the customers or depositors is critical to the success of agency banking by any banking or financial institution.
Unleashing the Latent Potential of Young People in Africa: The Example of Dalumuzi Happy Mhlanga and Salathiel Ntakirutimana
Authors: Alexander Josephine Olufunmilayo
Published: June 2020

This paper tells the story of two young people, Dalumuzi Happy Mhlanga from Zimbabwe and SalathielÂ NtakirutimanaÂ from Burundi, to show how they have defied the lack of structured opportunities to impact on the development of their home countries and to make a mark globally. The intention is to highlight the potential of young people and to show how this might be unleashed when they are allowed to innovate and flourish. The paper begins by providing a contextual definition of youth from global and African perspectives, followed by an insight into youth participation. Their stories are then told, based on my personal interaction with them during their two years at Waterford Kamhlaba, United World College of Southern Africa in Swaziland, their activities in school, university and in their home communities, their postings on social media and interviews. The discussion identifies Dalumuzi and Salathiel as social entrepreneurs and servant leaders with an enlightened vision of community development and the empowerment of young people. They demonstrate the interrelationship between youth empowerment and sustainable national development. The paper concludes with a message for African leaders and institutions around the world that it is essential to invest creatively in young people as they can be powerful catalysts for African development.
Investigation of the Voice of Students Regarding HIV/AIDS in South African Communities
Authors: Makola Solomon , Modise Motalenayne Alfred
Published: June 2020

The voice of students has been lacking in the majority of research regarding HIV/AIDS. This study investigated students’ voice regarding HIV/AIDS and its impact on their communities in South Africa. Participants were 20 education students from a South African technology education university (female 60%, black 85%; age range from 18 to 24). The participants completed a semi-structured interview on their voice regarding HIV/AIDS and its impact on their communities in South Africa within the context of treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS. Data were thematically analysed. Findings revealed that church leadership was not informed and as a result, could not address the issues of HIV/AIDS regarding their members. The study indicated that people living with HIV/AIDS needed love, support and care and, further, that belief and culture are contributory factors which need to be addressed with the different stakeholders. As a result of these beliefs and culture, individuals with HIV/AIDS experienced discrimination, lack of support and unfair treatment from their families.
Women and the Strategic Role of Information Dissemination through Folklore in Africa: A Case of Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe
Authors: Magocha Medicine , Mutasa Davie , Madadzhe Richard N
Published: June 2020

This article discusses the central “ignored” role that women play in disseminating vital societal information through folklore. It explores the limited conceptions and constructions of their roles in literature and the media today where they are confined to housekeeping duties. It argues that through story-telling—the cornerstone of communal revitalisation—women play a pivotal task in ensuring the well-being of their communities. In advancing this argument, the article takes into account the fact that folktales have formed the basis of African formal education and training, which was meant for cognitive development of the African child. The major concern is, despite the tremendous contribution of women into the development, re-engineering and redesigning of the society, women are not taken or taking themselves seriously when it comes to societal decision-making issues. This paper mainly depends on a literature review and qualitative research methodology. A sample of 25 homes was selected randomly in the Bikita District of Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. Data were collected orally from the story-tellers. Thereafter, an analysis was undertaken to establish the strategic role of women in disseminating information.
Genocide Survivor as Witness and Archive: Rupert Bazambanza’s book, Smile through the Tears: The Story of the Rwandan Genocide (2005).
Authors: Vambe Beauty , Essop Ghazala
Published: June 2020

Scholarship on African genocide by African scholars is still in its infancy. Spurred by studies on the Holocaust, African creative writers are slowly but increasingly rendering narratives of African genocide through their fiction. Steadily, new insights are being generated about the banality and evil that surround genocide in an African context and about the harms it causes. However, the original arguments that once made writing about genocide and the pain it inflicts a taboo, appear to continue to haunt the discipline of writing. First, there is the tendency to look down upon the act of writing about genocide experiences, the pretext being that it is in the nature of narrative to distort the density implied in the existential threat to humanity that genocide poses. Second, some literature of atrocity scholars are convinced that human beings who have not experienced genocide first hand are unable to live or even vicariously recreate the agony that genocide survivors experienced and might be able to relate. From this perspective, a genocide canon seems to have been authorised in which it is suggested that only survivors of genocide can produce authentic accounts of the pain that those who died went through. In recent times, critics and creative writers, some of whom are survivors, have challenged the idea of an absolute narrative of genocide by a survivor as the only true bearer of genocide pain and resistance to it. This article explores the panoply of meanings that a genocide survivor, Rupert Bazambanza, gives formal composition to through the genre of cartoon. The article argues that a genocide survivor is an embodiment of a witness and an archive of the experiences of someone who has survived and can tell the stories of the self and also of others who perished.