Flexible work arrangements and gender differences in research during the COVID-19 period in Zimbabwean higher learning institutions

This study sought to investigate the impact of COVID-19-induced flexible work arrangements (FWAs) on gender differences in research outputs during COVID-19. A mixed research methodology was used, focusing on higher learning institutions in Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling was applied to select 250 researchers from the 21 registered universities in Zimbabwe. The study's findings revealed that institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe did not provide the necessary affordances to enable both male and female academics to work from home effectively. The study also established that FWAs were preferred and appreciated by both male and female academics. However, whilst both male and female academics performed their teaching responsibilities without incident, unlike males, females struggled to find time for research, thus affecting professional growth and development negatively for female academics. Cultural traditions were found to subordinate females to domestic and caregiving responsibilities unrelated to their professions. The findings raise questions on the feasibility of the much-recommended FWAs for future work on female academics' research careers. Thus, without the necessary systems and processes to support female researchers, FWAs can only widen the gender gap in research outputs. This study contributes to the Zimbabwean higher learning institutions' perspective on how FWAs' policies and practices could be re-configured to assist female researchers in enhancing their research outputs as well as their career growth.

A Small Beautiful Example of Sustainability in the Heart of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has diligently started pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations in 2015. While making progress and being aware of it, will be a shot in the arm, with success breeding more success, the journey may seem daunting at times. However, the journey – sustainable development towards the targets set – is what matters more than the final destination, as philosophers and savants often remind us. This article, while dwelling on sustainable development in this southern-African landlocked country in general, presents a beautiful example of a collaborative venture, undertaken by dedicated and determined international partners, and predicated on SDG#4 (Quality Education) and SDG#5 (Gender Equality), and harnessing the complementarities and synergies with the other SDGs, which set root during the COVID-pandemic, in Mwenezi in southern Zimbabwe. The pandemic while being a scourge, tended to have some silver linings to it, as it gave birth to many collaborations and made human beings realise that one's own happiness is dependent to a very great extent on that of others. This venture emphasizes girls' education and skills-development, which open the doors, synergistically, to sustained growth, development and progress. Education, indisputably, is a key component of the freedom necessary to live a life of value. To quote Nelson Mandela, "It is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”. © 2023, Scientific Publishing House of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University. All rights reserved.

Optimising students' participation during emergency remote teaching in the Covid-19 pandemic

This study examined issues related to students' participation and online absenteeism among students at Zimbabwe's universities during COVID-19 induced online teaching and learning. More specifically, the study examined some of the ethical issues related to students' participation and assessment during online learning in selected universities in Zimbabwe. The study also examined some of the strategies that can be adopted to optimize students' participation during online learning to make online learning a more honest and interactive endeavour. To fully understand the challenges related to participation and online absenteeism, the study extrapolated the perspectives of students and academic staff who had adopted online learning since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was a mixed-methods study, employing a descriptive-analytical approach which utilised three main methods of data collection. Firstly, semi-structured questionnaires distributed electronically among participants in the selected universities were used to collect research data. Secondly, follow-up online focus-group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to elicit participants' views on some of the ethical challenges posed by online learning and possible strategies for dealing with the challenges. Finally, follow-up telephone interviews were also conducted with lecturers with the same objective as the FGDs. The study's population consisted of 110 students and 77 academic staff randomly selected from six universities in Zimbabwe. Two of the selected universities were privately owned and four were public universities. The study showed some of the technological and pedagogical issues regarding students' participation and strategies for optimising students' participation during online learning. The study also shared some of the ethical challenges that arose from the adoption of online teaching and assessment systems and the policy, resource and training interventions needed to make online learning more interactive, while at the same time safeguarding academic integrity. The findings of this study, therefore, have implications for universities, learners and academic staff if online learning programmes are to be successful. Firstly, universities for instance, need to ensure that students and academic staff have the prerequisite technological resources to ensure that optimal active learning takes place. Secondly, to address the shortage of resources, universities should ensure that their libraries migrate from physical to digital libraries. Universities should also ensure that both academic staff and students receive the necessary training to access these digital libraries and the services they offer.

The Right to Development in Zimbabwe's Second Republic

The emergence of the post-Mugabe government sparked a frenzy of speculation about whether it heralds the beginning of a new era or simply more of the same. Against the "open for business” slogan and positive language around rights implementation, we assess if the new administration genuinely understands and is committed to implement Zimbabwe's right to development. The Zimbabwean Constitution recognises a distinct right to development, following the spirit of the African Charter. The right to development is therefore more than just a social or political demand;it is also a legal right with enforceable legal responsibilities on governments to promote, defend, and fulfil the right to development. The Second Republic's shortcoming has been in failing to deliver on its promises. This is seen in its reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic. While it sought to establish a suitable legislative framework for dealing with the pandemic, it failed horribly in putting its policies into action. For example, Zimbabwe's government has failed to show transparency in how it handled millions of dollars of donated funds for the pandemic. Corruption was allowed to run helter-skelter and the Minister of Health was implicated in swindling almost, if not, all the donations. All this was taking place while lives were at stake. Further, the opposition contends that the government's democratic rhetoric is not matching with what is obtained on the ground and cites the persecution of opposition leaders, labour leaders and civil society activists, among other issues. This exemplifies the typical government practice of failing to live up to the constitutional obligation of ensuring the right to development on a consistent basis. The Mnangagwa government has failed to implement the right to development in practice, despite putting in place policy and legislation consistent with the right to development. In this respect, even on what would seem like a safe and risk-free policy initiative (after all, who would argue against the right to development), the Mnangagwa's government's formative project falls short. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

A position paper on the Quest for Education Quality and Inclusivity in Low Resource Environments such as Zimbabwe through Social Media

Social media has revolutionised human interaction globally especially on the informal front. This paper proposes that the social media facility could be ‘tamed' to help bridge the educational divide that is apparent especially in developing countries such as Zimbabwe and that was magnified by the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic split education provision along income lines with those from the higher income bracket accessing educational instruction virtually even during such an ‘emergency' while those from the low income group were literally on sabbatical, virtually excluded. The obtaining scenario threatens realisation of Sustainable Development Goal Number 4 by 2030 as planned by the United Nations. The particular goal is aimed at ensuring "inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all”. In some instances, some candidates get to the examination room so inadequately prepared that the situation can be described as de facto exclusion. In order to assist Covid-19 pandemic affected learners and to uplift education quality in low income communities, this paper recommends the provision of a tablet per class/grade that should be viewed as a learning/teaching tool. The class teacher can use the tablet to download material, show educational videos to the class, audio/video record learners for educational ends, receive educational materials from the Ministry and its partners and avail these in an interesting multimodal manner to the learners.

The Determinants of Positive Food Procurement Practices in COVID-19 Affected Communities: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Chiredzi Zimbabwe

The coronavirus pandemic has led to diminished income, which threatens nutrition security. Cash transfer programs increase the resilience of poor and vulnerable households by giving them an improved ability to obtain food and healthcare, which lead to nutrition security. However, the provision of cash does not necessarily translate to ideal behaviours, such as procuring nutritious foods. This study investigated the determinants of procurement of legumes and animal source foods amongst potential beneficiaries of a cash transfer project. We conducted a barrier analysis study in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe. Structured interviews were administered to 90 purposively sampled respondents (45 doers and 45 non-doers). The study investigated the four most common behavioural determinants, perceived self-efficacy, perceived social norms, perceived positive consequences and perceived negative consequences. Non-doers were 1.89 times more likely to state that receiving social assistance would make it easier to procure legumes and animal source foods for household consumption. Non-doers were 2.05 times more likely to state that the ability to barter their own possessions for legumes and animal source foods would make it easier to purchase the items for household consumption. Doers were 4.5 times more likely to report that relish comprising of animal source foods or legumes and pulses was tastier than other relishes. Doers were 12 times more likely to report that most people approve of purchasing animal source foods and legumes for household consumption. Doers were 3.23 times more likely to identify friends and relatives as the members of the community that approved of this behaviour. We identified three determinants of the procurement of legumes and animal-source foods, namely, perceived self-efficacy, social norms and perceived positive consequences. Cash transfer projects provide a first step to achieving nutrition security in the new normal but must be delivered with a context-specific behaviour change intervention. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

Trends and Dynamics of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: Implications for Selected Sustainable Development Goals

This study analysed the spatial and temporal trends and dynamics of COVID-19 to understand their implications on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Zimbabwe. Data on daily cases and mortality rates of COVID-19 were collected from the Worldometer website, whilst data on lockdown measures and travel restrictions were collected from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and Child Care. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses were employed on statistical data. COVID-19 statistical data were first tested for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Subsequently, the non-parametric Mann-Kendal (M-K) test was performed to determine the monthly average number of new cases and deaths trend from March 2020 to February 2022 using XLSTAT (2020). The study shows a significant increase (p = 0.00, α= 0.05) in COVID-19 cases between March 2020 and February 2022. The trend is characterised by sharp increases associated with wave periods. Although the results show no correlation between stringency index and COVID-19 cases, periods of high stringency are associated with a slightly lower number of cases. The spatial trends show that highly populated areas have high numbers of patient cases. Indeed, the lockdown measures put in place, among other factors, contributed to controlling the spread of the virus. The trends and dynamics of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe have implications for achieving SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3 and SDG 6. Thus, there is a need to factor in the temporal and spatial realities of COVID-19 in making a policy framework for effective control of the pandemic and promotion of sustainable development. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

Dialogism and polyphony in the interpretations of COVID-19 discourse in Zimbabwe

Meaning-making in any discourse is a nuanced or complex process which is ever-evolving and multifaceted. This study seeks to interrogate the linguistic and religious interpretations of COVID-19 pandemic discourse. The notions of the dialogic and polyphonic, in Bakhtin's theorisation of human discourse adopted in this chapter, underscore the importance of new hermeneutic traditions that embrace the polysemantic and polyvocal nature of COVID-19 discourses. Bakhtinian philosophy of language problematises the idea of a single reality or monolithic conceptualisation, but rather embraces multiperspectivality, contradictions and diversity in the interpretive process. Drawing from Bakhtin's dialogic and polyphonic notions, this chapter argues that the reception, interpretation and comprehension of meaning with regard to the pandemic depend on a linguistic composition of a particular discourse and the religious perception that one subscribes to. Most importantly, the claim to stable meanings disregards subjectivity and variability that come with diverse linguistic and religious interpretations in different contextual circumstances. Thus, the major thrust of this study is to explore and reflect on the linguistic framing and religious understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. The findings from this chapter demonstrate that interpreting the COVID-19 pandemic involves an interpretive process that is open-ended and ever-evolving in new contexts that demand constant re-reading. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. All rights reserved.

Financing the Social Sector in Zimbabwe's Post-Mugabe Era—Obstacles and Opportunities

This chapter reviews the trends in social sector outcomes in Zimbabwe and assesses the financing challenges in the post-Mugabe era. While Zimbabwe made significant progress in developing its social sectors in the post-independence era, the economic crisis experienced from 1998 to 2008 reversed some of the gains that had been achieved. When the country adopted a multiple currency system in 2009, social sector outcomes improved, driven by a favourable macroeconomic environment. From 2016, however, the country's economic fortunes reversed as the economy began to experience renewed challenges, including falling revenues and declining fiscal space, and shortage of foreign currency to import critical drugs, among other factors. In addition, continued depreciation of the domestic currency since its introduction in 2019 presented additional challenges to the Second Republic, as people's incomes were eroded while fiscal space continued to be squeezed. The situation was further exacerbated by the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic which affected both the education and health sectors in negative ways. These developments underlined the need for additional financing requirements to close the widening financing gap in social sectors in Zimbabwe. As this chapter shows, some of the possible financing options include broadening the tax base to unlock additional resources particularly from the informal economy, exploring contributory schemes, tapping into international financial assistance, strengthening public–private partnerships and tapping into diaspora remittances. There is also a need for strengthening public institutions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in utilisation of public funds earmarked for social sectors. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

An exploration of female healthcare workers' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bindura, Zimbabwe

This study explores the experiences and coping strategies of female frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in resource-constrained settings. Female frontline HCWs face an elevated risk of contracting the COVID-19 infection and infecting their loved ones because when they return from work. The study adopted a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of female frontline HCWs working in high-volume departments at Bindura provincial hospital in Zimbabwe. Using purposive sampling, 15 participants were recruited. HCWs were asked to share their views and perspectives on COVID-19 and their work environment. The study focused on HCWs' experiences of stigma and discrimination once infected;access to treatment;understanding of transmission;and life experiences of living with COVID-19. The findings suggest that female HCWs working in high-volume departments experience a higher risk of exposure to infection, barriers to assessing personal protective equipment (PPE) and stigma, which impact their mental health. However, despite the complex interrelated challenges female frontline HCWs face in Zimbabwe, there are limited interventions to ameliorate this burden, a knowledge gap this research aims to illuminate.

Perspectives of human resource practitioners in two urban local authorities in Zimbabwe

Orientation: This study examines the experiences of human resource (HR) practitioners in two urban local authorities (ULAs) in Zimbabwe. Research purpose: The research aimed to understand the human resource management (HRM)-oriented strategies and the extent to which HR practitioners' experiences could enable effective implementation. Motivation for the study: There is a need to understand the challenges HR practitioners in ULAs in Zimbabwe face in delivering effective HRM. Research approach/design and method: The study adopted a qualitative research approach using semi-structured interviews with 17 purposively selected HR practitioners. Thematic analysis was used to extract themes from the interviews. Main findings: The findings revealed five themes of HRM challenges in Zimbabwean ULAs, including political interference, resource constraints, bureaucracy and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Human resource management delivery is hindered by stakeholder involvement, performance management gaps, technology gaps and limited interaction with line management. Additionally, traditional HRM approaches committee-focused procedures, and inadequate investment in employee education limit HRM capabilities and procedures. Practical/managerial implications: The study suggests that policymakers and HR practitioners in ULAs in Zimbabwe should pay attention to the identified HRM challenges and proposed solutions to enhance HRM delivery and HR performance. The proposed conceptual model can serve as a guide to overcoming HRM challenges. Contribution/value-add: This study adds to the limited research on public sector HRM in Africa, and stakeholders and HR practitioners can benefit from the conceptual model and recommendations for streamlining HRM procedures in ULAs in Zimbabwe. © 2023. The Authors.

Intersectional analysis of women human rights defenders' lived experiences under COVID-19 lockdowns in Zimbabwe

This paper focuses on providing a nuanced understanding of how COVID-19 lockdowns in Zimbabwe exacerbated the vulnerability of women human rights defenders (WHRDs). It utilises a desk research approach to narrate the lived experiences of WHRDs in a context where historically they have faced abuse, exclusion, and social and political stigma. COVID-19 evolved from a public health crisis to a sociopolitical and economic crisis that affected multiple groups. Government responses to COVID-19 exacerbated the ‘hostile environment' specifically for WHRDs in different social and virtual spaces, and they had to grapple with the multi-dimensional crises of livelihoods, health, state repression, and everyday survival. Civil and political liberties came under severe attack in Zimbabwe after March 2020. The most apparent were the violations of the right to freedom of movement and the right to freedom of association (including the right to religion) through curtailment of population mobility as well as postponement of political and elections-related activities on 25 March 2020. In all these spaces WHRDs were targeted by government and their activities curtailed by the curfews imposed within communities. The soaring economic crisis and the effects of COVID-19 are intertwined with police brutality, abduction of political and media personalities including WHRDs, and harassment of press and silencing of WHRD voices. State-sponsored attacks against women have come in the form of beatings by the police and army, and arrests under the guise of enforcing COVID-19 restrictions. This paper also highlights the agency of WHRDs to continuously create spaces and ways to keep fighting for improved service delivery in the face of increased state repression, by confronting institutionalised impunity, risking jail to protect and promote civic and political rights, and challenging oppressive traditional practices. © 2023 Oxfam KEDV.

Resilience and Livelihood Diversification in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case of Smallholder Farmers in Goromonzi District, Zimbabwe 1

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on humanity, and rural households have not been spared. Focusing on Goromonzi District in rural Zimbabwe, this article employs the sustainable livelihoods framework to investigate its effects on agricultural production and marketing by resettled farmers in the first year of the pandemic. It shows that COVID brought with it several shocks, stresses, and vulnerabilities that affected rural households. It goes on to explore the risk-coping strategies that such households employed. Rural households can be seen as having used their agency to engage in diversified livelihood activities, by which they strengthened their coping capabilities and thus responded to the pandemic. With livelihoods at the center of analysis and capabilities, assets, and resources framing the discussion, the article provides an empirically grounded contribution on the immediate ramifications of the pandemic on rural households in Zimbabwe and how they managed to cope. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Africa Today is the property of Indiana University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Savings groups and the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe: Critical assessment of the informal social protection scheme

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged nations and people's lives throughout the globe across multiple dimensions. Measures to curtail the spread of the disease in Zimbabwe have stifled the capacity of the majority of the population, relegated to the informal sector, to source a living. In the absence of robust social protection interventions from the state, these measures pose a more immediate threat to the lives of marginalised and vulnerable communities than the pandemic itself. Savings groups (SGs), which have providedfinancial relief andprotection from economic shocks and stressors to such population groups, have been entrapped by the preventive and containment measures employed by the Zimbabwean authorities. It is unclear how and to what degree such conditions leave underserved populations exposed to socioeconomic shocks as such vital informal social protection alternatives have been rendered ineffectual. Using documentary review, this study examines the fate of SGs in such socially restricted and economically debilitating circumstances. In addition, the authors discuss strategies for improving the sustainability of such grassroots micro-finance initiatives under COVID-19 induced contraptions. Programmatic andpolicy measures necessary for retaining and protecting the viability of (SGs) as alternatives for informal social protection for marginalised and vulnerable groups under COVID-19 are advanced.

COVID-19 Infodemic and Misinformation: A Global Review and Implications for Zimbabwe

The advent and rapid spread of the coronavirus resulted in the need and demand for timely and reliable information about the contagion. The absence of such information led to a massive COVID-19 infodemic paddled on different forms of media. Myths, conspiracies, rumours and misinformation about the disease rapidly spread across the globe causing panic, anxiety, racism and sometimes false hope. The chapter examines the different sources of COVID-19 misinformation that led to the infodemic and then analyses the implications of the infodemic on Zimbabwe. The chapter uses secondary data in the form of available documents and reports on COVID-19 misinformation. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The results show that COVID-19 infodemic is one of the factors that have prolonged and intensified the pandemic. This is because there was an overabundance of false information, especially on social media platforms, which made it difficult for affected people to get reliable guidance when they needed it. Zimbabwe, like most African countries, has been equally impacted because there is limited capacity to counter health misinformation. There are no specific indicators permitting the monitoring of misinformation and its impact. There is therefore a need for different stakeholders in the country to partner in the development of robust infodemic management strategies and/or policies. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

Fake News, Social Media, and the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Zimbabwean Experience

This chapter examines the role of COVID-19 fake news disseminated on social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp) in Zimbabwe. The research was guided by three research questions: (1) What is the nature of COVID-19 fake news in Zimbabwe? (2) How have Zimbabweans responded to the fake news? (3) What are the consequences of the fake news to COVID-19 response efforts? The study provided answers to these questions via a Fake News Receptivity Test (FNRT) and a sample population of one hundred and seventy-three social media users drawn from Harare-Zimbabwe's capital. The research discovered that 82% of the sample population accepted the COVID-19 fake news as truth. Drawing from these findings, the paper maintains that the rapid spread and controversy surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe can also be attributed to the role of fake news. The fake news mainly manifests in the form of false information about the pandemic, erroneous medical advice, fraudulent preventive measures and scandalous rumours about COVID-19 vaccines. The study concluded that the widespread acceptance of COVID-19 fake news in Zimbabwe has resulted in low vaccination turnout, flouting of COVID-19 safety protocols and the spiking of COVID-19-related deaths and infections. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

When theory meets praxis – enhancing heritage management through practice-led research at Great Zimbabwe World Heritage property

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to outline and reflect on the new research agenda for the Great Zimbabwe World Heritage property. This research agenda was jointly developed by academics and practitioners from Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) respectively. This Research-Practice Team was put together for the Heritage Place Lab (HPL), a pilot project of the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership programme. Design/methodology/approach: A series of steps were undertaken to come up with research priorities and a new research agenda that are presented in this paper. The HPL project involved online workshops, due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, that were held between September 2021 and April 2022. The HPL methodology involved six assignments that were based on the Enhancing Our Heritage Toolkit 2.0 (EOH) which was being designed by UNESCO and its Advisory Bodies. This toolkit encouraged the team to establish site-specific management issues and research needs. The toolkit helped the team to have a detailed appreciation of the site's Outstanding Universal Value as well as other heritage values of national and local importance. The toolkit also involved the mapping of site attributes and multiple actors as well as the analysis of governance and legal frameworks. The toolkit also required the team to identify factors affecting the heritage property. Findings: The Research-Practice Team highlighted challenges that resulted from the legacy of ill-informed research activities and conservation efforts at the World Heritage property. It became more apparent that the site managers were prioritizing the physical fabric of the site at the expense of the spiritual aspects. Lack of coordination among the actors was also undermining the governance structure. Four thematic strands which included local values and intangible cultural heritage elements;heritage governance;climate change and environmental sustainability and incorporation of local knowledge systems were identified for further research. Originality/value: The paper is an outcome of collaborative efforts that were done by academics and practitioners. Researchers and site managers at Great Zimbabwe had hitherto worked in silos. The majority of previous and ongoing research on the World Heritage property falls short of addressing the dire management challenges. The paper is an attempt to broaden the scope in terms of the management of the site. In the past focus has been on the monumental aspects of the site with specific reference to the dry-stone walled structures. However, in this instance, the Research-Practice Team has integrated new interests such as the intangible aspects of Great Zimbabwe, spirituality and community beneficiation. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Effectiveness of Dolutegravir in People on Rifampin-Based Tuberculosis Treatment

Background: Tenofovir-lamivudine-dolutegravir (TLD) is the WHO-preferred first-line regimen for people with HIV, but drug-drug interactions between dolutegravir (DTG) and rifampin (RIF) require an additional 50mg DTG (TLD+50) in people receiving tuberculosis (TB)/HIV co-treatment. RIF is a key drug in TB treatment, but is a potent inducer of metabolizing enzymes and efflux transporters, which can markedly lower drug concentrations. There are limited data on the effectiveness of TLD+50 in people with TB/HIV from program settings. Method(s): We conducted a prospective, observational study at 12 sites in 6 countries (Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe). Participants received concomitant TLD+50 and RIF-based TB treatment provided as standard of care by HIV and TB treatment programs. Primary outcome was HIV-1 RNA <1000 copies/mL (cpm) at end of TB treatment. New DTG resistance mutations were defined as those present at end of TB treatment but not present at start. Result(s): From 11/2019-6/2021, we enrolled 91 participants with TB/HIV, including 75 ART-naive participants (82%) starting TLD+50 after a median of 15 days on TB treatment, 10 ART-naive participants (11%) starting TLD+50 and RIF together, 5 (5%) starting TB treatment and changing to TLD+50 after a median of 3.3y on TLD, and 1 (1%) starting RIF and TLD+50 after changing from EFV/3TC/TDF. Median age was 37y (IQR 32-43), 35% were female, 100% cis-gender, median CD4 count was 120 cells/mm3 (IQR 50-295), 87% had HIV-1 RNA >1000 copies/mL. Two participants died during TB treatment (week 4 disseminated TB, week 12 suspected COVID-19), 1 interrupted TLD+50 due to jaundice;and 1 discontinued TB treatment due to drug-induced liver injury. Among 89 surviving participants, 6 were lost to follow-up and a further 10 had no HIV-1 RNA result due to missed or remote visits. Primary virologic outcome was therefore assessed in 73 (80%), of whom 69 (95%, Wald 95% CI 89-100%) had HIV-1 RNA <=1000 cpm;68 (93%) had HIV-1 RNA <200 cpm. No sex specific differences in viral suppression were observed. No DTG resistance mutations were detected among 4 participants with HIV-1 RNA >1000 cpm. Conclusion(s): Concomitant RIF-containing TB treatment and TLD+50 was welltolerated and achieved excellent viral suppression in a cohort of predominantly ART-naive people with TB/HIV. These multi-country data from program settings support feasibility and effectiveness of current treatment approaches for TB/ HIV co-infection.

Emergency Remote Instruction (ERI) in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Educators at Zimbabwean Higher Education Institutions

As part of COVID-19 containment measures, the government of Zimbabwe declared a state of emergency on 17 March 2020 and higher education institutions closed by 24 March 2020. Against this background, this chapter seeks to examine the experiences and preparedness of educators in adopting, and adapting to, emergency remote instruction (ERI) on one hand, and availability of infrastructure that facilitates ERI on the other hand. Our study was prompted by the prevailing challenges faced by educators in transitioning from conventional face-to-face teaching to ERI through Google Classroom, Zoom teaching, and other platforms. This qualitative research adopted an exploratory research design. Data was gathered through telephone interviews, Zoom and Skype meetings, and online questionnaires. Purposive and convenient samplings were utilized for the selection of six key informants and 30 educators from six higher education institutions in Zimbabwe. The findings reveal that the majority of the educators were not ready to adopt ERI in performing their duties. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Experiences of Female-headed Households in the ADRA Cash Transfer Programme in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe

The social, economic, and political crises in Zimbabwe have resulted in extreme poverty and the female-headed families are no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated poverty and food insecurity in rural households. This sudden shock was not anticipated, and many governments failed to sustain livelihoods for smallholder farmers who relied solely on farming activities and selling of farm produce. The state has failed to fulfil its basic mandate of social service provision to the most vulnerable sections of society. Consequently, the Basic Agricultural Assistance programme was introduced as a microeconomic stability tool to buffer income risks faced by the poor. The article aimed to discuss the experiences of female-headed households in the Adventist Development and Relief Agency cash transfer Programme in Nganunu Village in Zvishavane. A phenomenological research approach through an exploratory qualitative research design was used to get in-depth insights on the experiences of female-headed households. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Content thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Findings indicated that despite health, political and economic crises, the implementation of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency cash transfer was a success in bridging the gap left by the collapse of the social welfare system. The cash transfer programme empowered female-headed households to access agricultural inputs timeously. Female-headed households were capacitated to make decisions and improve food security in and to initiate social cohesion with other beneficiaries. The study recommended inter-sectoral collaborations between state and non-state actors for more effective programmes that cushion female-headed households from poverty.