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Influence of Gender Dynamics on the participation of women entrepreneurs in Manufacturing Entrepreneurship in Harare, Zimbabwe
(2026) MUZORORI, Muchaneta Patience
This study explored how gender dynamics shape women’s involvement in manufacturing entrepreneurship, with a specific focus on gender stereotypes, gender identity, gender socialisation, and gender expression. The study was grounded in Social Role Theory, which posits that societal expectations and assigned roles significantly influence individual behaviours and opportunities, particularly in gendered contexts. The main aim was to investigate the extent to which gender dynamics influence women’s participation in manufacturing entrepreneurship in Harare. Specifically, the study sought to: (i) analyse the impact of gender stereotypes on women’s participation; (ii) examine the role of gender identity in women’s entrepreneurial engagement; (iii) assess the influence of gender socialisation on participation; and (iv) determine how gender expression shapes women’s participation. A mixed-methods survey design was adopted, targeting women entrepreneurs in both male dominated and female-dominated manufacturing sectors in Harare. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data, while Pearson correlation and logistic regression were used to test the influence of the independent variables on women’s entrepreneurial participation. The findings revealed strong, positive, and statistically significant relationships between all four variables and women’s participation: gender stereotypes management (r = 0.821, p = 0.012); gender identity (r = 0.857, p = 0.001); gender socialisation (r = 0.889, p = 0.023); and gender
expression (r = 0.834, p = 0.003). Gender socialisation demonstrated the strongest association with participation. Qualitative insights further indicated that gender stereotypes hinder participation by reinforcing perceptions of technical incompetence and prioritising domestic responsibilities. Conversely, gender identity and socialisation promoted engagement, as women with strong self-confidence, supportive social networks, and exposure to role models were more likely to participate. Gender expression also mattered: assertiveness, professional presentation, and the ability to navigate male-dominated environments correlated with higher levels of entrepreneurial engagement. The study recommends that policymakers, business support institutions, and educators implement targeted interventions to reduce gender stereotypes, strengthen mentorship and networking platforms, and promote positive gender expression to enhance women’s participation in manufacturing entrepreneurship. Future research should examine additional gender-related factors, conduct comparative studies across regions, and assess the long-term impact of policy and training interventions.
The nature, causes, and effects of occupational stress on academic lecturer performance in private tertiary institutions located in Gaborone, Botswana
(2026) PEPUKAI, Roselight Chuma
This study investigated the nature, causes, and effects of occupational stress on academic lecturer performance in private tertiary institutions located in Gaborone, Botswana. The backdrop to this research is a higher education sector increasingly characterized by rising workloads, resource limitations, and growing performance expectations placed on lecturers. These factors have raised concerns about the impact of stress on both individual well-being and institutional effectiveness. Adopting a convergent parallel mixed-methods research design, the study combined quantitative survey data from academic staff with qualitative insights obtained through open-ended responses. The quantitative component utilized structured questionnaires distributed to academic staff and managers across private tertiary institutions in Gaborone. From a target population of 1,173 academic staff and managers across 14 registered private tertiary institutions, a sample of 294 respondents was selected, of which 255 valid responses were obtained, representing an 86.7% response rate. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression models were used to assess the extent of occupational stress and its impact on various dimensions of lecturer performance, including teaching quality, productivity, student engagement, and deadline compliance. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically to capture deeper personal and contextual narratives around stress experiences. The findings revealed that occupational stress is both prevalent and multidimensional in nature. Major stressors included excessive workload, time constraints, role ambiguity, administrative overload, and insufficient institutional support. Quantitative findings showed statistically significant negative relationships between occupational stress and lecturer performance, with correlation coefficients ranging from r = -0.68 to r = -0.72 across key performance dimensions. Regression analysis further showed that occupational stress predictors explained 58% of the variance in lecturer performance (R² = 0.58), with emotional exhaustion and lack of role clarity emerging as the strongest contributors to reduced performance. Qualitative findings reinforced these results by highlighting lecturers’ experiences of fatigue, frustration, reduced motivation, and challenges in balancing teaching, administrative, and personal responsibilities. The study concludes that occupational stress in Botswana’s private tertiary institutions is not merely an individual challenge, but a structural issue embedded in organizational culture, management practices, and institutional governance frameworks. Based on these findings, the study recommends that private tertiary institutions review lecturer workloads and role allocations, establish staff wellness and psychosocial support programmes, strengthen communication and managerial support systems, and embed stress management and emotional well-being interventions within staff development and human resource policies. The study further underscores the importance of inclusive leadership, staff participation in decision-making, and sustained investment in academic support infrastructure. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on higher education in emerging economies, particularly within the SADC region, by providing empirical evidence on the relationship between occupational stress and lecturer performance in Botswana’s private tertiary education sector. It offers practical insights for policymakers, institutional leaders, and scholars interested in academic workforce sustainability, and opens avenues for future research, including longitudinal investigations into stress across academic career lifecycles and comparative analyses between public and private tertiary institutions.
Key words: Occupational Stress, Lecturer Performance, Private Tertiary Institutions, Higher Education, Botswana, Workload, Role Ambiguity, Academic Burnout, Mixed Methods
Assessing the effect of Artificial Intelligence on procurement efficiency: A case of Prudent Health Care Lusaka
(2026) SELEMANI, Marriam Kuwani
This study, titled “Assessing the Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Procurement Efficiency: A Case of Prudent Health Care Lusaka,” examined how AI adoption influences procurement performance within a healthcare setting. Guided by institutional theory, the study employed a mixed-methods approach involving 100 purposively selected employees from the operations, IT, and procurement divisions. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 16, while
qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. Findings revealed moderate to high exposure to AI tools, with 60% of staff using AI-enabled systems, although adoption varied across specific functions such as spend analytics and chatbots. Respondents generally agreed that AI improved procurement speed, cost efficiency, demand forecasting accuracy, supplier management, and overall transparency. Despite these gains, significant barriers were identified, including high implementation costs, limited technical expertise, inadequate infrastructure, resistance to change, and insufficient management support. Digital readiness was mixed, as most staff possessed basic digital literacy but lacked AI-specific training, with only 40% reporting adequate preparation to use AI tools effectively. By and large, the study concludes that AI is positively transforming procurement efficiency at Prudent Health Care, but its full potential remains constrained by financial, structural, and capacity-related challenges. It recommends strengthening training, enhancing infrastructure, improving leadership commitment, and implementing robust change management and cybersecurity strategies, while future studies should compare AI adoption across institutions and track its long-term impact on procurement performance.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Procurement Efficiency, Digital Transformation, Healthcare Procurement, Institutional Theory, AI Adoption, Digital Readiness, Supply Chain Management, Prudent Health Care Lusaka, Mixed Methods Research.
An Assessment of the Factors Influencing the Implementation of Sustainable Procurement: A Case Study of the Ministry of Health Headquarters
(2026) SILWEMBE, Mwalimu
This study aimed to assess the factors influencing sustainable procurement at the Ministry of Health (MoH) headquarters in Zambia. The objectives included: i) examining the impact of financial constraints on sustainable procurement; ii) analysing the role of regulatory compliance as an environmental factor; and iii) assessing how stakeholder engagement and pressure affect implementation. The study used a mixed-methods approach with a population of
44 and a sample of 40 participants. These included procurement officials, health service workers, administrators, and finance personnel from the Ministry of Health headquarters. A proportional sampling method was employed to select the participants. Primary data were gathered through semi-structured questionnaires. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods with SPSS version 16, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The study found that implementing sustainable procurement within the Ministry faced several challenges across its three main objectives. First, financial constraints arose from limited funding. Second, although regulatory compliance was generally effective, enforcement of these regulations was weak. Lastly Stakeholders were occasionally consulted to offer input on the implementation of sustainable procurement. However, it is crucial to manage
the change process well in order to overcome internal opposition, which poses a major obstacle to successful implementation. To promote eco-friendly sourcing, the Ministry should create a sustainable supplier database that centralizes pre-qualified vendors with confirmed sustainability credentials. It is also essential to incorporate sustainability criteria into procurement processes by making environmental, social, and economic measures mandatory in tender documents and supplier assessments. This will shift the focus away from selecting suppliers based solely on cost.
Keywords: Sustainable Procurement, Financial constraints, Stakeholder Engagement and
pressure, Regulatory compliance.
Investigating the Factors affecting Procurement Efficiency in Public Schools: A Case Study of Lusaka District Schools
(2026) SUBULWA, Nahiya
Procurement efficiency is a cornerstone of effective public sector administration, particularly within the education sector where the timely, cost-effective, and transparent acquisition of goods and services directly affects the quality of teaching and learning. This study, titled “Investigating the Factors Affecting Procurement Efficiency in Public Schools: A Case Study of Lusaka District Schools,” examined the key determinants of procurement efficiency in 20 selected public schools within Lusaka District. A descriptive case study design using a mixed-method approach was adopted. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative techniques, with quantitative data processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The findings revealed that procurement planning, staff competency, and ethical conduct are the major factors influencing procurement efficiency in public schools. Most respondents agreed that effective procurement planning-including needs assessment and budget alignment enhances timeliness and minimizes delays in acquiring goods and services. Additionally, staff competency emerged as a crucial determinant of efficiency, with 65% of respondents confirming that personnel possess adequate skills, though gaps remain due to limited training opportunities. Ethical conduct was also found to significantly enhance efficiency, as adherence to transparency, fairness, and accountability builds trust and reduces corruption. However, the study identified several challenges hindering procurement efficiency, including inadequate funding, corruption, weak record-keeping, bureaucratic delays, and insufficient staff training. To address these issues, respondents recommended the adoption of e-procurement systems, improved budget allocation, regular capacity-building programs, and strengthened ethical oversight. The study concludes that enhancing planning, improving staff competency, and enforcing ethical standards are essential for achieving efficient procurement systems in public
schools. Future studies are encouraged to include a larger sample size across multiple districts to allow comparative analysis and generalization of findings.
Keywords: Procurement Efficiency, Public Schools, Procurement Planning, Staff Competency, Ethical Conduct, Lusaka District, Public Sector, E-Procurement.